Borderites – Blaine (WA) High School

It’s accurate alright. This town of 6,000 is right on the border with Canada.

In fact, it’s home to the Peace Arch international monument (note people for scale).

Blaine itself is actually known as the Peace Arch City. In addition to arches, the town is also know for once having the world’s largest salmon cannery. It also has a long history of smuggling. 

Luke Ridnour, who played in the NBA for 13 years is a native son … as well as a graduate of Blaine High School and a former Borderite. Other “famous” Borderites include a sports announcer, a CFL footballer, and an NHLer.

One skinny dude

The school itself was founded in 1906. Today, there are about 635 students. Oddly, their homepage makes no mention of athletics (but does include an article about the chess team).

Peace Arch included (not actual size)

I did eventually find a page devoted to athletics, and it includes the typical sports, but also things like girls wrestling and bowling.

By the way, there is another Blaine High School, in Minnesota. Unfortunately, they’re the boring – but equally awesomely alliterative – Blaine Bengals.

Belugas – Buckland (AK) School

You know, caviar? Kind of whale? Er, funny name? 

Buckland is in Alaska, in the middle of absolute nowhere.

It has only 550 people, mostly Inupiak. And, yes, they do hunt beluga.

Buckland School, which goes from kindergarten to 12th grade, has 270 students (half the town!), 96% of them being Native Alaskans. The school was built in 2002, and is the biggest building in town by far.

Really hard to find anything on the actual sports teams. Well, here’s proof that they exist at least:

It does seem, though, that the only team may be girls basketball.

They’re the ones in white and baby blue. 

Interestingly, there seem to be only 3 teams in their league – Buckland, Kiana, and the elbows-on-the-keyboard classic Napaaqutgmiut.

Battling Bathers – Mt Clemens (MI) High School

Now, battling is not something I traditionally associate with bathing. I do, though, give them credit – at the very least – for the amazing alliteration.

Mt Clemens (AKA “The Clem”) is about 25 miles north of Detroit. Founded in 1795, it was named after the founder, Christian Clemens. It has 16,000 people today, so actually has some “skyscrapers.”

Traditionally, the largest industry was mineral baths (which helps explain that crazy mascot). Vistors includes Clark Gable, Mae West, Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, William Randolph Hearst, and the Vanderbilt family.

Today, it’s mostly a bedroom community for the Motor City.

The high school dates back to 1924, and currently has 225 students. “Famous” alumni include an NFLer, a drag racer, & a local TV news personality.

The girls’ teams are called the rather genteel Lady Bathers. There was also a minor league baseball team of the same name (the Bathers, that is, not the Lady Bathers).