July 23, 2010

• High School Mascots

  The other night I was reliving the glory days of my football coaching career.  I was thinking of a particular game that was a defensive battle.  My team won with a late touchdown and with that win we also won the conference title.  The team we played had one of the most bizarre nicknames I have ever seen first hand.  They were the Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms. 

  

  That image comes from the school’s official website which can be found here.

  When I was in the booth radioing to the coaches on the sidelines I noticed that the Awesome Blossoms even had a young girl dressed as the Blossom.  She was having a horrible time.  She was in tears and obviously didn’t want to be dressed as a mighty flower.  I kept waiting for them to bring out food from Chili’s or Outback whichever has the blooming onion.

  This got me thinking of some of poor nicknames of collegiate and high school sports teams.  In this post I’ll just include some of my favorite high school nicknames.

   

  Alabama  
  Montgomery:  Sidney Lanier  - Poets 

  Alaska
   Diomede  -  Dateliners (I bet Chris Hansen jumps out at halftime and makes everyone take a seat)
   Ketchikan  -  King Salmons
   Palmer  -  Moose
   Point Hope: Tikigaq  -  Harpooners 

  Arizona

   Bagdad  -  Sultans
   Gila Bend  -   Gila Monsters
   Mesa: Heritage Academy  -  Heroes  
   Yuma  -  Criminals
  Arkansas
   Bauxite  -  Miners
   Hartford  -  Hustlers (Larry Flynt?)
   Harrison  -  Golden Goblins
   Marmaduke  -  Greyhounds
   Morrilton  -  Devil Dogs
   Ozark  -  Hillbillies
   Prescott  -  Curly Wolves
   Stuttgart  -  Rice Birds
   Wonderview  -  Daredevils

  California
   Coalinga  -  Horned Toads
   Concord  -  Minutemen  
   French Gulch: Nawa  -  Steelheads
   Hollister: San Benito  - Hay Balers
   Lakewood: Mayfair  -  Monsoons
   Laundale: Leuzinger  -  Olympians
   Lincoln  -  Fighting Zebras
   Los Angeles: Hollywood  - Shieks
   Los Angeles: John Marshall  - Barristers
   Los Angeles: Manual Arts  -  Toilers (fitting since it is a school of manual art)
   Los Angeles: Ribet Academy  -  Fighting Frogs
   Los Angeles: Thomas Jefferson  -  Democrats (his official party name was the Democratic Republicans)
   Los Olivos: Dunn HS  -  Earwigs
   Napa  -  Vintage Crushers
   Sacremento: St. Francis  -  Troubadours
   Venice  -  Gondoliers
    Yuba City  -  Honkers

  Colorado
   Alamosa  -  Mean Moose
   Aspen  -  Skiers
   Brush  -  Beetdiggers
   Fort Collins  -  Lambkins
   Poudre  -  Impalas
   Rocky Ford  -  Meloneers
   Windsor  -  Wizards
  
  

  Connecticut
    Avon: Avon Old Farms  -  Winged Beavers  
    East Hampton  -  Bellringers
    Kent:  Marvelwood School  -  Screaming Pterodactyls
    Milford: Jon Law  -  Lawmen
    Moodus:  Nathan Hale-Ray  -  Noises
    Woodstock Academy  -  Centaurs

  Florida
   Daytona: Seabreeze  -  Fighting Sandcrabs
   Englewood: Lemon Bay  -  Manta Rays (Steve Irwin’s arch-nemesis)
   Fort Lauderdale  -  Flying L’s
   Key West  -  Conchs (When they have school assemblies only the kid with the conch may speak)
   Laurel Hill  -  Hoboes
   Tarpon Springs  -  Spongers   (named after some cheap relatives?)

  Georgia
   Cairo  -  Syrupmakers   
    Savannah: Johnson  -  Atom Smashers
   Clarkston  -  Angoras

  Hawaii
   Kailua  -  Surfriders
   KaMakani: Hawaii Prep  -  Gentle Breeze
   Pahoa  -  Daggers
   Idaho
   Camas Co.  -  Musher Dogs  
   Clark Fork  -  Wampus Cats
   Shelly  -  Russets
   Orofino  -  Maniacs
   Sun Valley:  The Community School  -  Cutthroat Trout
  Illinois
   Arcola  - Purple Riders
   Centralia  -  Orphans / Orphan Annies
   Cobden  -  Appleknockers
   DeKalb  -  Barbs
   Effingham  -  Flaming Hearts
   Fisher  -  Bunnies
   Freeport  -  Pretzels
   Fulton  -  Steamers (at least no school in Cleveland has that nickname)
   Galesburg  -  Silver Streaks
   Hampshire  -  Whip-Purs
   Hoopeston  -  Cornjerkers (have you ever had your corn jerked?)
   Kewanee: Wethersfield  -  Flying Geese
   Lake Forest Academy  -  Caxy's
    Monticello  -  Sages
   New Berlin  -  Pretzels
   Rock Island  -  Rocks
   Tuetopolis  -  Wooden shoes
   Woodhull: Alwood  -  Aces
   Zion-Benton  -  Fighting Zee-Bees

  Indiana
   Cloverdale  -  Clovers
   Crawfordsville  -  Athenians
   Delphi  -  Oracles  
   Frankfort  -  Hot Dogs
   Hobart  -  Brickies
   Indianapolis: Northwest  -  Space Pioneers
   Jimtown  -  Jimmies
   Logansport  -  Berries
   Madison: Grant  -  Argylles (they have to have the coolest uniforms)
   Plymouth  -  Pilgrims
   Rising Sun  -  Shiners
   Shoals  -  Jug Rox
   Speedway  -  Sparkplugs
   Union Mills: South Central - Satellites
   Vincennes: Lincoln  -  Alices

  Iowa
   Akron-Westfield  -  Westerners (Because Iowa is out west)
   Burlington: Notre Dame  -  Nikes (Nike is “Victory” in Greek)

   Center Point/Urbana  -  Stormin’Pointers
   Clinton  -  River Kings / Queens 
   Fort Madison  -  Bloodhounds
   Iowa City:  City HS  -  Little Hawks
   Muscatine  -  Muskies
   Pocahontas  -  Maidens   (girls teams only) 
   Scattergood: Friends  -  Scattergood Crew
   Sheldon  -  Orabs   (Not Arabs stands for orange & black)

  Kansas
    Hesston  -  Swathers
    Lawrence  -  Chesty Lions     (visit their website for the explanation!)
    Salina: St. Johns Military  - Muleskinners
  Kentucky
   Bowling Green - Purples  
   Louisville: Sacred Heart  - Valkryies
   Erlanger: Lloyd Memorial  - Juggernauts  
   Silver Grove  -  Big Trains
   Somerset  -  Briar Jumpers

  Louisiana  
    Crowley  -  Ladies/Gents
    Farmerville  -  Fighting Farmers
    Metairie  -  Chipmunks  
    New Orleans: Newman  -  Greenies

  Maine
    Brewer  -  Witches
    Falmouth  -  Yachtsmen (This must be where the Bush family has one of their residences)
    Lee Academy  -  Pandas
    Morse  -  Ship Builders
    Orono  -  Riots
    Penobscot Valley  -  Howlers
  Maryland
   Allegany:  Campers
   Annapolis: Key School  -  Obezags
   Baltimore:  Dunbar  -  Poets
   Crisfield  -  Crabbers
   Sandy Spring: Friends School  -  Wildebeests

  Massachusetts
   Ashland  - Clockers
   Lexington: Lexington Christian Academy  -  Lasers
   New Bedford  -  Whalers
  Westford  -  Grey Ghosts
   Michigan
   Bad Axe  -  Hatchets
   Bessemer  -  Speedboys/Speedgirls (They made an appearance in a reality series about Watersmeet)
   Colon  -  Magi
   Dearborn: Fordson  -  Tractors
   Detroit: Cass Tech  -  Technicians
   Detroit: Southeastern  - Jungaleers (So that is where ICP derived the name Juggalo)
   Dexter  -  Dreadnaughts
   Grand Rapids: Gateway  -  Geckos
   Gwinn  -  Modeltowners  
   Ida  -  Blue Streaks
   Ishpeming  -  Hematites
   Jackson: Northwest  -  Mounties
   Kingsford  -  Flivvers
   Midland  -  Chemics
   Mt. Clemens  -  Battling Bathers
   Unionville-Sebawing Area -  U.S.A Patriots
   Watersmeet  -  Nimrods (This school was featured in a reality series on Sundance Channel called Nimrod Nation.  Excellent show)
   West Iron County  -  Wykons
   Wayne:  Memorial  - Zebras
   Zeeland:  East  -  Chix
   Zeeland:  West  -  Dux

  Minnesota
   Aitkin  -  Gobblers
   Blooming Prairie  -  Awesome Blossoms
   Jordan  -  Hubmen (I lived near this town and no one could explain what a Hubmen was other than it was a town where two major highways that lead to the Twin Cities met)
   Minneapolis: Roosevelt  - Teddies
   Minnetonka  -  Skippers (I wish Alan Hale was their mascot)
   Sauk Centre  -  Main Streeters
   Thief River Falls  -  Prowlers
   Two Harbors  -  Agates

  Mississippi
   East Union  -  Urchins  

  Missouri
   Clarkton  -  Reindeer
   Hickman  -  Kewpies
   Maryville  -  Spoofhounds
   West Plains  -  Zizzers
   St. Louis: University High  - Junior Billiken
  Montana
   Chinook  -  Sugar Beeters
   Deer Lodge  -  Wardens
   Forsythe  -  Doggies
   North Toole Co. -  Refiners
   White Water  -  Penguins  

  Nebraska
   Fairbury  -  Jeffs
   Lincoln: Lincoln  -  Links   (as in chain links)
   Minden  -  Whippets (They celebrate victories in style)
   Omaha: Benson  -  Bunnies
   Omaha: Mercy  -  Monarchs (The butterflies)
   Pender  -  Pendragons
   Ord  -  Chanticleers
  Nevada
   Cheyenne  -  Desert Shields  
   Indian Springs  -  Thunderbirds (A school around me has the nickname Thunderbirds but maybe this one refers to the magical elixir)
   Tonopah  -  Fighting Muckers  
   Virginia City  -  Muckers

  New Jersey
   Belvidere  -  County Seaters
   Fair Lawn  -  Cutters  
   Vineland  -  Fighting Clan (Thankfully not associated with the KKK)

  New Mexico
   Carlsbad  -  Cavemen
  New York
   Albany: The Doane Stuart School  -  Thunderchicken
   Fort Edward  -  Flying Forts
   New York: Automotive  -  Pistons (self-fulfilling prophecy)
   New York: Cardozo  -  Judges (self-fulfilling prophecy)
   New York: Sinatra School of the Arts  -  Legends (That has to be the best school nickname ever considering the school is named after THE Legend)
   New York:  Stuyvesant  -  Hitmen (seeing it is New York City…self-fulfilling prophecy)
   New York: Edison  -  Inventors
   Tarrytown: Sleepy Hollow  - Headless Horsemen
   Warrensburg  -  Burgers  

  North Carolina  
   Durham  -  School of Science & Mathmatics  -  Unicorns  
   Greensboro: Grimsley  -  Whirlies  
   Kernersville: Bishop McGuiness  -  Villians  
   Washington  -  PamPack

  North Dakota
    Adams-Edmore  -  Prowlers
    Casselton: Central Cass  - Squirrels
   Grafton  -  Spoilers
    Minot  -  Magicians
    Napoleon  -  Imperials
    New Salem  -  Holstiens
  Ohio
   Avon Lake  -  Shoremen/Shoregals  
   Barberton  -  Magics
   Chillicothe: Unioto - Sherman Tanks (I wonder if they get licensing fees)
   Cincinnatt: Taft  -  Senators (with a name like Taft you’d think they would be the Presidents or Justices)
   Cleveland: Glenville  -  Tarblooders  
   Cleveland: Jane Addams  -  Executives    
   Cleveland: John Marshall  - Lawyers
   Garretsville: Garfield  - G-Men
   Crooksville  -  Ceramics
   Fredericktown  -  Freddies
   Fremont: Ross  -  Little Giants (Hopefully they get Rick Moranis to coach their football team)
   Marion: Harding  -  Presidents
   New Philadelphia  -  Fighting Quakers (But aren’t Quakers pacificts)
   Parma: Normandy  -  Invaders
   Philo  -  Electrics
   South Webster  -  Jeeps
   Urbana  -  Hillclimbers
  Oklahoma  
    Beaver  -  Dusters (that is a scary nickname maybe sexy if the cheerleaders wear French maid costumes)
    Chickasha  -  Fighting Chicks (That has to be a girls school)
    Enid  -  Plainsmen  
    Haskell  -  Haymkers
  Oregon
    Bend  -  Lava Bears
    Lakeview  -  Honkers
    Portland: Episcopal  -  Aardvarks
    Portland: Roosevelt  -  Roughriders
  Pennsylvania
   Allentown: Allen  -  Canaries
   Aliquippa  -  Quips (what a witty team)
   Biglerville  -  Canners
   Boiling Springs  -  Bubblers (if they were in Wisconsin their mascot would be a drinking fountain)
   Canonsburg: Canon-McMillan  - Big Macs (not a McDonald’s reference but they are Scottish)

   Cranberry  -  Berries
   Hatboro-Horsham  -  Mad Hatters
   Haverford  -  Fords
   Industry:  Western Beaver  -  Golden Beaver (mmmmm golden beaver)
   Karns City  -  Gremlins (Not STRIPE!)
   Mars Area   -  Fightin' Planets
   North East  -  Grape Pickers
   Northhampton  -  Koncrete Kids
   Philadelphia: Franklin  - Electrons
   Philadelphia: St. Hubert  - Bambies (very intimidating)
   Punxsutawney  -  Woodchucks (Not Phil?)
   Williamsport  -  Millionaires

  Rhode Island
   Coventry  -  Knotty Oakers
   East Providence  -  Townies  
   Pawtucket: Bishop Keough  -  Koalas (Because the Koala is native to Rhode Island)

  South Carolina  
   Mullin -  Auctioneers  

  South Dakota
  Centerville  - Tornadoes
  Dell Rapids  - Quarriers  
  Gettysburg  -  Battlers 
  Lake Preston  - Divers
  Lead-Deadwood  - Golddiggers (Al Swearengen would be proud as would Paris Hilton)
   Newell  - Irrigators
  Parker  - Pheasants
  Phillip  - Scotties
  Rapid City Central  -  Cobblers
   Sturgis  - Scoopers (You’d think this school would have a fiercer sounding nickname seeing they have the annual bike rally there)

  Tennessee
   BellBuckle: The Webb School  -  Feet
   Chattanooga: Central  -  Purple Pounders
   Chattanooga: Girls Prep  -  Bruisers (fitting for a girls school)
   Hendersonville  - Commandos
   Gray: Daniel Boone  -  Trailblazers    rivals with Crockett HS
   Jonesborough:  David Crockett  -  Pioneers   rivals with Boone HS
   Nashville: Harpeth Hall  -  Honeybears
  Texas
   Bryan: St. Michael  -  Dragonslayers
   Cameron: Yoe  -  Yoemen
   Cuero  -  Gobblers (I wonder what they gobble)
   Falfurrias  -  Fighting Jerseys
   Freeport: Brazosport  -  Exporters
   Hereford  -  Whitefaces
   Houston: Morris Academy  -  Praying Hands
   Hutto  -  Hippos
   Italy  -  Gladiators
   Itasca  -  Wampus Cats
   Lewisville  -  Fighting Farmers
   Mesquite  -  Skeeters (SKEET SKEET SKEET)
   Munday  -  Moguls
   New Braunfels  -  Unicorns
   Port Lavaca: Calhoun  -  Fighting Sand Crabs
   Robstown  -  Cottonpickers
   Springtown  -  Fighting Porcupines
   Taylor  -  Fighting Ducks
   Van  -  Vandals
   Winters  -  Blizzards

  Utah
   Beaver  -  Beavers (That’s sort of cheap)
   Granite  -  Farmers
   Jordan  -  Beetdiggers
   Manti  -  Templars (A lot of conspiracy theorists attend this school)
  Vermont
   Burlington  -  Seahorses
    Montpelier  -  Solons
  Virginia
   Fluvanna County  -  Flying Flucos
   Hampton  -  Crabbers
   Highland Springs  -  Springers (The only team in America endorsed by Jerry Springer)
   Madeira  -  Snails     (gotta be tough for the track team)
   Portsmouth: Churchland  -  Truckers
   Prince George  -  Royals
   Richmond: John Marshall HS  -  Justices

  Washington
  Blaine  -  Borderites
   Eatonville  -  Cruisers
   Illwaco  - Fishermen
  Lake Washington  - Kangaroos
  Mercer Island  -  Islanders 
  Richland  -  Bombers
  Ridgefield  - Spudders 
  Pateros  - Billiegoats
  Waterville  - Shockers

  Washington, D.C.
  Cardoza  -  Clerks
   

  West Virginia 
   Inwood: Musselman  -  Applemen  
   Man  -  Hillbillies
   Poca  - Dots (That’s right they are the Poca Dots)
   

  Wisconsin
   Antigo  -  Red Robins (yum)
   Appleton: West  -  Terrors (I'm shaking in my Chuck Taylors)
   Ashland  - Oredockers
   Bayfield  - Trollers (They have the best internet debate team)
   Butternut  -  Mighty Midgets (TLC has to do a reality series here)
   Clintonville  - Truckers (I'm not even going to make a joke here)
   Cuba City  -  Cubans (because Wisconsin is known for Cuban communities)
   DeForest  -  Norskies (Dem Norskies and deys teams)
   Dodgeville  -  Dodgers (Named after Governor Dodge)
   Elk Lk-Glenbeulah  -  Resorters (The laziest practices in Wisconsin)
   Elk Mound  -  Mounders
   Fall Creek  -  Crickets (You should hear the sound effects at their games)
   Fond-du-Lac: St. Mary's Springs  -  Ledgers (My school lost to this school in a state championship football game.  They are called the Ledgers because they are on the ledge of a hill)
   Horicon  - Marshmen (I was in this gym for a playoff game and the mascot is simply a guy standing among some reeds)
   Hurley  - Midgets (That can’t be politically correct but TLC has plans for a reality series)
   Kaukana  - Galloping Ghosts (The cheese they make in Kaukana is hauntingly delicious)
   Kimberly  -  Papermakers
   Laona  -  Fighting Kellys (I once dated a girl named Kelly and she was abusive)
   Madison:  East  -  Purgolders (Purple+gold=purgolder...gang colors of Madison)
   Manitowoc  -  Shipbuilders
   Mellen  -  Granite Diggers
   Milwaukee: Washington  -  Purgolders (A team I played against in high school were known as the Blugolders simply because their colors were blue and gold)
   Milwaukee: Pius XI  -  Popes (Hard to believe this is a Catholic school)
   Mineral Point  -  Pointers
   Monroe  - Cheesemakers (The only place in America that makes limburger cheese so they stink it up on the playing fields.  The other industry in Monroe is beer making.)
   Nekoosa  -  Papermakers
   Oconomowoc  -  Coons (Not going to touch that one)
   Platteville  -  Hillmen
   Rhinelander  -  Hodags (Beware the Hodags)
   Washburn  -  Castle Guards
   Weston: Everest  -  Evergreen
   Watertown  -  Goslings

  Wyoming
   Big Piney  -  Punchers (I wonder if they have a boxing team)

  • 12:32 PM
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