Vote now: Which high school has the best mascot in America? (Historical Figures Bracket)
Over the next month we'll be featuring some of the best nicknames in high school sports, with an end goal of determining the fans' favorite.
We've built 12 brackets of 15 teams each, and we'll roll out three brackets a week.
We recently released the Historical Figures Bracket, featuring 15 outstanding high school sports nicknames with a historical theme. Descriptions of each are below the poll.
Best high school mascots in America: 15 most unique nicknames (Historical Figures Bracket)
Now, we want to hear from you: Which is the best nickname in the bracket?
Vote in the poll to pick your favorite, and the winner will advance to the Dandy Dozen Championship Bracket.
Historical Figures Bracket voting will conclude Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
(Photo of Rapid City Central Cobblers cheer team by Erin Bormett / Argus Leader via Imagn Content Services, LLC)
Washington Mighty Bookers (Virginia)
Washington High School in Norfolk was named in honor of Booker T. Washington, an African-American educator, author, orator and adviser to presidents of the United States. These Mighty Bookers often refer to themselves simply as “the Bookers,” since “Mighty” is implied when we’re talking about Booker T. Washington.
Pershing Doughboys (Michigan)
Gen. John J. Pershing’s troops in World War I were known as “Doughboys,” a nickname that dated back to the Mexican War of 1846-48, when American infantrymen made long treks over dusty terrain, giving them the appearance of being covered in dough.
Lincoln Abes (Washington, Michigan)
There’s only one Abe Lincoln, but there are two Lincoln Abes (one in Tacoma, Washington, and the other in Warren, Michigan). On a related note, there are seven Hoover high schools in the United States, but none is called the Herbs.
Lincoln Railsplitters (Pennsylvania, Michigan, New York, Iowa, Illinois)
Not as popular as “Honest Abe,” but Abraham Lincoln started being called “the Railsplitter” in 1860 to boost his image as a backwoodsman candidate. After all, he had split rails in his youth. Enough said.
Roosevelt Teddies (Minnesota)
There are a whole bunch of Roosevelt high schools in the U.S., and most are nicknamed the Rough Riders or the Roughriders, which is sort of a counterpart to the Lincoln Railsplitters. And while there are two Lincoln Abes high schools in the country, Minneapolis has the only Roosevelt Teddies.
Polo Marcos (Illinois)
International seafaring version of the Lincoln Abes and Roosevelt Teddies.
Marion Swamp Foxes (South Carolina)
Francis Marion was known as the Swamp Fox during the Revolutionary War because of his camouflage skills in the forested surroundings. Marion the town was named after the military hero, and the high school took it even further by taking his nickname.
Osceola Kowboys (Florida)
Osceola's mascot is named for real-life cowboy and Kissimmee native Otis "Pete" Clemens, who died in 2018 at the age of 91. Why Kowboy with a K? It comes from a cartoon portrayal of Clemons that was put on a pickup truck and dubbed "Kowboy Jake."
Sauk Centre Mainstreeters (Minnesota)
Doesn’t seem like it belongs in the Historical Figures Bracket at first glance, but the reasoning is sound. Sauk Centre is the birthplace of author Sinclair Lewis, and the town inspired his fictional Gopher Prairie, the setting of Lewis' 1920 novel “Main Street.” The high school chose the mascot Mainstreeters in a nod to the novel and novelist.
Brush Arcs (Ohio)
Geometry reference? Nope. Charles F. Brush was the inventor of the arc lamp, which revolutionized public lighting in the 1870s.
Rapid City Central Cobblers (South Dakota)
Yes, a cobbler is a job (shoe mender/maker), but these Cobblers are named after an important man in the school’s history. Coach Euclid Cobb led the Central football team to 144 wins, 43 ties and 13 losses, including his undefeated teams in 1922, ’23, ’25, ’27, ’31, ’32 and ’43.
Bagdad Sultans (Arizona)
Though the mascot name is a reference to Baghdad, Iraq, the name of the town isn’t. Supposedly a father and son operated a small-scale copper mining operation there in the late 1800s. The father dug out the ore and the son loaded it into bags. Hence, Bagdad.
Gann Academy Red Heifers (Massachusetts)
The red heifer was a cow brought to the priests as a sacrifice according to the Torah, and its ashes were used for the ritual purification of the impurity of the dead — that is, an Israelite who had come into contact with a corpse.
Goodrich Martians (Michigan)
From the Goodrich website: “When the ‘Martian' name was adopted in the 1930s, it had a dual significance because in Roman mythology, Mars was an agricultural deity as well as a warrior. Goodrich still has many small farms, and the Martian warriors have to be reckoned with on the playing field and in the classroom.” So no, it has nothing to do with Marvin from Looney Tunes.
Hallahan Catholic Mickey Mouses (Pennsylvania)
Mickey Mouse was born at Disney in 1928. Two years later, in search of a mascot, Sister Regina at Hallahan Catholic asked Walt Disney to allow Mickey to be used as the school’s mascot. Permission was granted, and it’s never been granted again at any school since. The school closed last year, but plans are in the works to reopen, so we decided to keep the Mickey Mouses' hopes alive here.
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