The Cowhide Rivalry: The Tale of Both Sides

Redwood High School and Mt. Whitney High School’s ASB shares what they do and what they think when it comes to Cowhide.

By: Adam Lopez

This school year marks the 69th Cowhide, most know what goes on at campus during this time of our school year.

Redwood students are usually really active during the week of Cowhide. Payton Short, ‘25, says, “I think when we walk around campus we have such a strong student body. You always see people dressing up.”

Ava Giannini, ‘26, adds to this topic when she says, “I feel like our student body gets pretty involved in Cowhide spirit, with how we decorated the place, we all got pretty involved.”

With the spirits high for Cowhide there are several events that lead up to it, and plenty go into implementing these.

Short says, “A lot of clubs contribute to ASB and help us as well. We decorate the whole entire campus, Sierra Vista and Main, every hallway. We each are required to do certain posters, certain cow spots, we decorate the campus so well. We also plan all the events, we have Taylor’s Hot Dogs, we have the Cowhide game, all the LTA’s, the carnival. We do so much for the week.”

“We painted spirit lane, and we put together the carnival,” says Giannini.

With what the Redwood ASB students said, that leaves the questions: what happens this time of year on the other side of the street, and how does that compare and contrast with what we do?

Marea Vidak, ‘25, Mt. Whitney’s ASB president says, “I think the student body really gets involved during the week, I think even those who are more shy and don’t come out of their shells always show up for Cowhide and I think everyone gets really excited for Cowhide and I think it’s definitely the event that everyone looks forward to the most.”

This compares pretty well to us at Redwood, students from both schools get involved in school culture during the week of Cowhide.

“Leading up to the event, we always have a theme for our Cowhide. We create a video to play at our rally, we do dress-up days, we decorate the campus, and we always do lunchtime activities during the week,” says Vidak. 

Ms. Johnson, Mt. Whitney’s ASB Advisor, says, “The biggest thing is probably the cow spots around campus, big posters, and just the excitement of the whole week.”

This compares quite a lot as well, both sides having similar activities throughout the week, yet may contrast in how they are done.

One thing that compared the closest was when those interviewed were asked what their opinion was on the rivalry, all seeming to have a similar, positive, opinion.

“I think it’s a great tradition that we have every year, and I think it just keeps getting more advanced and we keep adding more, better things. I think it’s a good tradition that we have and we should keep it alive as long as possible,” says Short.

Giannini also says, “I feel like it can get pretty heated at times, but I feel like that’s good motivation for us to win the hide.”

The Mt. Whitney people had similar things to say when asked the same question.

Vidak says, “I feel like the rivalry, even though it is a rivalry, really gets the schools involved, both of them. I think it’s a really great tradition and I’m really happy that it has continued for so long.”

“I think it’s a great old tradition and just good fun,” says Johnson.

Tags: ASB, clubs & lifestyles, cowhide, Mt. Whitney, Mt. Whitney Pioneers, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, visalia ca