Texas is a sports-crazy state. It is amazing to think about how much annual routines are influenced by the passing of sports seasons. It transcends the calendar in many cases – some would say in most cases.

Part of the scholastic landscape is the fortuitous event of going into a playoff competition. In addition to marking superior performance by local student-athletes, it also brings local teams (and hence communities) in contact with lesser-known towns and cities and their respective schools.  

Which brings us to the discussion of mascots. 

The origin, meaning and even the sound of a school-mascot match can teach us about the local community, such as the Grapeland Sandies – Sandies, according to one Grapeland basketball fan, is a dirt devil which picks up the very sandy soil around Grapeland. Others are instructive of something for which the community is known such as the Lanier Voks – a vok is a specific type of industrial fitting. Others are just play-on-words which feature the alliteration of spoken language, such as the Hutto Hippos.

While researching the UIL football playoffs, this reporter got pulled down the proverbial mascot rabbit hole. Judgments were made in an effort to identify the most unique, the most obvious, the most alliterate and lastly the best fitting school-mascot combinations.

The Unique List

Burleson Elks, Horizon Scorpions, Knippa Rockcrushers, Little River Academy Bumblebees, Mason Punchers, Palo Duro Dons, Progresso Red Ants, Somerville Yeguas, Texas City Stingarees and the Wellington Skyrockets.

While it may be argued if red ants are a particular feature of the biology around Progresso, the athletes of Knippa are known as Rockcrushers as a result of the large deposit of basalt (known as trap rock) which is mined in the area. The Knippa Trap Rock Mine, now operated by Vulcan Materials, is still going strong after over a century in operation. 

The Yeguas of Somerville are one of a handful of Spanish language mascots. Although Yegua translates as ‘mare’ in English, the Yeguas draw their mascot from the Tonkawa Indian tribe. Stephen F. Austin coined the name ‘Yeguas’ due to the mustang mares and foals that grazed among the tribe in the area.

Many might think that the Texas City Stingarees is a misspelling of stingrays. It is not. While there is a specific species of stingaree that inhabits the coast of Australia, in Texas ‘stingaree’ refers to a number of different stingrays which inhabit the Texas coast, including Galveston Bay.

Some people may take issue with Burleson High School using the term, Elks. However, both Britannica and Merriam-Webster note that the plural of elk can be either ‘elk’ or ‘elks.’

The Most Obvious list

This list can be fun. The mascot name is found in each case by contemplating the name of the school. The ten most obvious mascots are Buffalo Bison, Cameron Yoe Yoemen, Frisco Panther Creek Panthers, Jayton Jaybirds, Lubbock Westerners, Muleshoe Mules, Red Oak Hawks, Roma Gladiators, Shamrock Fighting Irish and the Winters Blizzards.

The Alliteration List

Alliteration is a bit of an art. Not only must the two words begin with the same sound, but it should have a pleasant lilt and rhythm. On the alliteration list are Balmorhea Bears, Ben Bolt Badgers, Christoval Cougars, Hawkins Hawks, Hutto Hippos, Longview Lobos, Odem Owls, Rudder Rangers, Warren Warriors and the Wink Wildcats. 

In the end, everyone associates with their own high school. However, there are a few whose monikers just seem to fit. Subjectively, here are five well-matched: Dimmitt Bobcats, Devine Warhorses, Tuft Greyhounds, Silsbee Tigers and Alice Coyotes. For this reporter, the Devine Warhorses, in Medina County, take the state mascot title.