Cranberry Berries Compete in National High School Mascot Bracket

Pennsylvania team faces off against California's Hollister Haybalers in Round 1 of competition

Mar. 16, 2026 at 7:48pm

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The Cranberry Berries high school mascot from Pennsylvania is one of 64 teams competing in a national bracket to determine the best high school mascot in America. The Berries, seeded 7th, will take on the 10th-seeded Hollister Haybalers from California in the first round, with fan voting determining the winner.

Why it matters

This unique March Madness-style competition highlights school pride and the creativity of high school mascot designs across the country. The Cranberry Berries represent a historical agricultural legacy in their community, while the Hollister Haybalers evoke the farming heritage of their region.

The details

The Cranberry Berries mascot is described as resembling "part berry, part red ant, and fully prepared for combat." The Hollister Haybalers, commonly shortened to the 'Balers, feature a pitchfork-wielding mascot that represents both agricultural tradition and rural gothic imagery. Voting for the Round 1 matchup between the Berries and Haybalers will end on March 23.

  • The national high school mascot bracket competition is officially underway this week.
  • Voting for the Round 1 matchup between the Cranberry Berries and Hollister Haybalers will end on Monday, March 23 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.

The players

Cranberry Berries

The mascot of Cranberry High School in Pennsylvania, resembling "part berry, part red ant, and fully prepared for combat." Wild cranberries flourished in Cranberry Township during the 1700s and early 1800s, and the Berries endure as the school's mascot.

Hollister Haybalers

The mascot of Hollister High School in California, commonly shortened to the 'Balers. The school's pitchfork-wielding mascot evokes both agricultural tradition and rural gothic imagery, reflecting the school's location in farming country near Gilroy, the garlic capital of the world.

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What’s next

The winner of the Round 1 matchup between the Cranberry Berries and Hollister Haybalers will face either the Colorado Rocky Mountain Oysters or Goodrich Martians (Michigan) in Round 2.

The takeaway

This unique national high school mascot competition celebrates the creativity and school pride behind the iconic mascots that represent communities across America. The Cranberry Berries and Hollister Haybalers both draw on their regional agricultural histories to create distinctive and memorable mascot designs.