Cozad High School is a secondary school located in Cozad, Nebraska, United States. It is part of Cozad Community Schools.

Cozad High School
Address
Map
1710 Meridian Ave.[1]

,
United States
Coordinates40°52′05″N 99°59′06″W / 40.86818°N 99.98512°W / 40.86818; -99.98512
Information
TypePublic school
Faculty25.73 (FTE)[2]
Grades9–12
Number of students283 (2017-18)[2]
Student to teacher ratio11.00[2]
Color(s)Red and black
  
MascotHaymaker
ConferenceSouthwest Conference
WebsiteCHS

About edit

The vision statement of the district is as follows:

"Cozad Community Schools will create a learning environment in which students are provided with and use technology and communication tools to:

  • Encourage and facilitate lifelong learning
  • Foster creativity, collaboration and communication among students, faculty and staff
  • Provide media-rich environments for student learning
  • Provide learning opportunities for students outside of the classroom and extending beyond the school day
  • Provide safe, secure access to on-line resources and communication tools"

The current principal is Mr. Corey Fisher. The previous principal, Mr. Bill Bechenhauer, is gone.[3] Beck will live forever within the student's memories.

Athletics edit

The Haymakers are members of the Southwest Conference.[4] They wear the colors of red and black.[5] Cozad offers competition in boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' golf, boys' and girls' track & field, football, softball, boys' and girls' cross country, and wrestling.[6]

Alleged Tunnel Network edit

Students once allegedly uncovered a network of tunnels underneath the school building.[7] They stem from the library, and may go as far as the auditorium or to one of the science rooms. Some teachers and students even claim they have entered these tunnels at one point. The tunnels likely were used to maintain the plumbing system that runs underneath the school, but hasn't been utilized for many years, as evident by the copious number of rusted pipes.[8] There are various artifacts that have been recovered from the tunnels, and many more left to be rediscovered.

Mascot edit

The current Cozad High School mascot is named the Haymaker, in reference to one of the earliest pieces of local folklore, a character by the name of Johnny C. Haymaker. According to legend, Haymaker was an 18th-century farmer known for his remarkable efficiency in clearing fields with a powerful, sweeping punch, dubbed the "haymaker."[9] In tribute to his agricultural contributions, the town adopted the Haymaker as the mascot for the local high school. Sources show that the character that would later be referred to as the "Haymaker" is actually a reference to the town founder, John J. Cozad.[10]

The town's annual "Hay Days" commemorates Johnny C. Haymaker's legacy, featuring activities like a parade and a greased hog competition.[11] In the earlier celebrations of Hay Days, participants would build hay bale sculptures, but this tradition struggled to survive through the Dust Bowl.[12]

While many regard the stories of Johnny C. Haymaker as mere folklore,[13] some community members believe in the mascot's ability to bring good fortune, especially during important high school football games. They channel the icon of the Haymaker with a fake pitchfork, held in the Senior English classroom in the school buildings. As a result of this practice, Cozad is often referred to as "Pitchfork Nation."[14]

References edit

  1. ^ "NSAA Home".
  2. ^ a b c "COZAD HIGH SCHOOL". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  3. ^ "Mr. Corey Fisher Named New Cozad High School Pr..." www.cozadschools.net. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  4. ^ https://nsaahome.org/textfile/about/byconf.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  5. ^ "NSAA Home".
  6. ^ "Cozad High School - Athletic Teams Overview". Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2012-12-17.
  7. ^ "Cozad Community Schools". www.cozadschools.net. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  8. ^ "Be Aware - Internet Safety Information". www.cozadschools.net. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  9. ^ artist, <img alt= src='https://www lowkickmma com/wp-content/gravatars/c7b929334b593efc232f0eef79cb0f0f' srcset='https://www lowkickmma com/wp-content/gravatars/c7b929334b593efc232f0eef79cb0f0f 2x' class='avatar avatar-80 photo' height='80' width='80' decoding='async'/> David Wray A. martial; Houston, former coach for two decades from; kickboxing, Texas Specializing in the disciplines of; karate; MMA; Twitter, Jiu Jitsu (2023-01-05). "What Is A Haymaker Punch?". www.lowkickmma.com. Retrieved 2024-01-08. {{cite web}}: |last6= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ^ "John J. Cozad articles". negenweb.net. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  11. ^ "150th Celebration Continues". cozadlocal.com. 2023-09-07. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  12. ^ "Hay Days in Cozad, Nebraska | Museum on Main Street". museumonmainstreet.org. Retrieved 2024-01-08.
  13. ^ CNN; Sports, Yahoo!; Sports, F. O. X.; StarSports, ESPN; Times, Tokyo; Authorities, Many Other Leading; planet, Evolve MMA aims to deliver the best martial arts instruction available anywhere on the (2022-03-30). "How To Effectively Throw A Haymaker Punch In Boxing". Evolve Daily. Retrieved 2024-01-08. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. ^ "Pitchfork Nation Crewneck". Double L Embroidery. Retrieved 2024-01-08.