Behind the scenes, the Gigantea student newspaper prepares to document one of Redwood’s biggest events, capturing not only the game itself but also the people and traditions that make Cowhide meaningful.
By: Scarlet Ortiz
As Cowhide approaches, excitement builds throughout the Redwood community. From school spirit activities and football game preparations to the anticipation surrounding the rivalry game against Mount Whitney, the week becomes one of the busiest times of the year for the Redwood Gigantea staff members.
For journalism advisor Mr.Miller, preparing for Cowhide requires more mental preparation than physical work. With around 100 student writers working on stories and interviewing hundreds of people, the week brings numerous decisions, deadlines, and questions.
“It’s mental work. And it can get a lot sometimes, you know, with 100 writers going in 100 different directions, talking to 4 or 500 different people.” Miller states.
Rather than controlling every story, Miller focuses on guiding students and allowing them to make their own editorial decisions. As an advisor, he encourages students to explore different perspectives while providing support when they need it.
This approach allows Gigantea to cover Cowhide from multiple angles, including sports, student life, and arts and entertainment.
For many members of the Redwood community, Cowhide represents more than a competition between two schools. It is a tradition that connects students, families, alumni, and generations of community members.
Miller believes traditions are important because they help people maintain a connection to their history.
“I think every culture should have a history, like the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, etc.,” Miller says.
Covering Cowhide requires coordination across Gigantea’s different sections. Sports writers focus on the football team, players, and coaches, while Student Life writers explore the experiences of students and the activities taking place throughout the week. Photographers work alongside writers to ensure important moments are documented.
Jake Villarreal ’28 and Sports Section editor says, “It’s not one person. It’s all of us together,” Villarreal says. “All writers work hard; our editors work hard.
For sports writers, finding unique story angles can be challenging because the game itself is the central focus. However, looking into individual players, coaches, and the work happening behind the scenes gives journalists opportunities to report stories beyond the final score.
“It’s Cowhide. The football game of the year, and it definitely hits a lot more. And with that, with how much legacy is behind it.” Villarreal stays.
Villarreal also describes Cowhide as especially meaningful because of its connection to the local community and the opportunity to cover an event that brings people together.
While other student sections focus on students’ perspectives and their preparations and contribute to Cowhide, sports student sections focus on capturing an inside view during Cowhide and giving the student football players a voice and perspective in the Mineral King Bowl.
“We’re pretty limited on what we can do, because sports is the game. So, we take different angles of the inner workings of certain players or coaches and other factors that go into Redwood’s biggest reputation.” Villarreal says.
Meanwhile, student life writers concentrate on the people and activities that contribute to the week’s journalism, identifying associated student body members, senior football players, and freshmen as important interview subjects.
Owen Wallance ’28, Student Life section editor, states, “ASB is one of the major sources, and seniors who are crucially involved in the school; we like to capture their last memories at Redwood.”
Senior players can reflect on their final Cowhide, while freshmen offer a perspective shaped by experiencing the tradition for the first time. Interviewing both groups allows the newspaper to capture different stages of students’ high school experience.
Communication is essential to organizing this coverage. Student life writers coordinate with photographers, communicate with other writers, and track deadlines to help stories publish throughout the week.
“Communication is, like, the best part,”. Wallance says.
Cowhide presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The week requires extensive planning, communication, photography, and reporting, but it also allows students to document a tradition that connects generations.
By working together to capture the traditions, emotions, and individuals behind Cowhide, the Gigantea staff helps preserve not only the history of the rivalry but also the community that continues to give it meaning.
Scarlet Ortiz
I love working with the Redwood Gigantea and getting awesome stories out to the public and students. I'm a '28 journalism students who's passionate about story telling and allowing peoples voices to be out there.
Tags: clubs & lifestyles, cowhide visalia, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, redwood sports, visalia ca
