Mascot of our high school, Lakes High School on Southwest Farwest
Drive in Lakewood (in Pierce County, near Steilacoom and in suburban Tacoma) is
“Lancers.”
But, it wasn’t always so.
Initially, when Lakes opened in the fall
of 1962, Lakes had burnt orange and royal blue as school colors, but no
nickname. It was up to students in the school’s first academic year, 1962-1963,
to select finalists and pick a winner.
Somewhere are stories – presumably in the
Lakes Ledger, Suburban Times and TNT/Tacoma News Tribune newspapers -- listing
the nicknames given final consideration. Even without that, memory serves that “Lakers”
was a contender. The winner was “Lancers.”
This brings us to the cover of the 1964 Lakes Legend, the second issue of the
student yearbook. See it here, with this posting. What apparently is supposed
to be a Lancer appears to be a conquistador.
Nothing wrong with “Conquistador
or Conquistadores as high school team nicknames. But, when the nickname of your
school is “Lancers” it was a perplexing cover design decision.
Postscript: You might be interested in reading “Story behind Lakes burnt
orange and royal blue colors,” June 1, 2010, Suburban Times
