Former students turned teachers share how Cowhide has transformed over the years.
By Emma Alcantar
Memories of high school often last long after graduation, but some traditions look different with time. For Redwood High School teachers who once walked the halls as students, Cowhide is more than just a current school event; it is a reminder of their own high school years.
Cowhide centers on the school rivalry with Mt. Whitney High School, culminating in a showdown at the season’s last football game. Joshua Matsumoto, an English teacher at Redwood and graduated in 2015, said, “Cowhide was always the big deal; it was like the biggest part of the year. So I remember it was really big for me because I was in the hip hop class, so we had to perform at the assembly.”
In 2015, Redwood won the Cowhide game 41-14. It was Redwood’s 60th annual Cowhide, and their game against El Diamante was also a major play for the boys’ football season.
Snapchat was created in 2011, when Matsumoto was a sophomore, so people were just starting to get used to social media platforms. Matsumoto also said, “Before it wasn’t about just trying to show off to people and like, push it on social media; it was like, you gotta live those moments and actually be present… now like you guys are constantly flooded with exciting things all the time, so a high school rally just seems like just another thing that you could swipe through.”
Matsumoto lived through high school during the early days of social media before it really kicked off. Between 2015 and 2026, social media has become a much bigger part of students’ daily lives. While students in both years experienced school traditions like Cowhide, the way they share those experiences has changed.
Elizabeth Foresythe, one of Redwood’s AP Language teachers, said her Cowhide experience was fun because “Redwood won all the time.” Foresythe graduated in 2006; the 2006 Varsity football team won the Cowhide game 34-14, and the football team was “the underdogs” that season.
Foresythe said, “I was in the band, so it was fun to be part of the celebrations.” She also said they would mix with Whitney, and that it was “a really cool experience to be part of both bands together.”
In 2005, the old historical hide began to break down, and it was replaced. Foresythe, who got to see the new hide, said, “there was a weird two or three year period where they had gotten a new cowhide, and it was furry, and it was really ugly.”
Although their Cowhide experiences may have differed, both teachers enjoy seeing students create their own memories of the tradition. “It’s nice because I get to see big moments for your guys’ lives,” said Mr Matsumoto. Foresythe shared a similar view, saying, “it’s just a lot of fun to come back and still experience the same kind of things!”
Emma Alcantar
Emma Alcantar '30 is in her first year of journalism and is a reporter for the student life section. She enjoys learning different cultures and the history of Redwood. She participates in Cross Country, Track, and Orchestra.
Tags: clubs & lifestyles, cowhide, cowhide '26, cowhide history, rangers, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, visalia ca
