VOTE: What Florida high school has the best mascot?

We've selected 12 schools which we believe have the most interesting and unique mascots

High school football is nothing without is pageantry and nothing adds to the fun and excitement of a Friday night under the lights like a fun team mascot.

While some schools go with tried and true mascots like Eagles, Tigers, Bulldogs and Panthers, all shared by thousands of schools across the land, others get really creative in connecting their mascot to their local community.

There are the Cobden Appleknockers in Illinois, the Jordan Beetdiggers in Utah and the Monroe Cheesemakers in Wisconsin, just to name a few. The state of Florida, which is unique for many things, also gets nifty when it comes to its high school sports mascots. From the Panhandle to the Keys, there are hundreds of high schools with team mascots that perfectly fit (or don’t fit) their particular area. With this in mind, we decided to do a poll on which high school has the best mascot name in the state of Florida. Take a look at the 12 schools we picked out.

Charlotte Fighting Tarpons: Just minutes away from the school are hundreds of fishermen out fishing for the popular game fish. Tarpons are very popular in the south Florida region and Charlotte High School picking the mascot was perfect for the area.

Christopher Columbus Explorers: Just take a time machine back to 1492 when Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean and landed in the Americas. Columbus was an explorer and the name derives from that very voyager.

Colonial Grenadiers: This mascot is a literal tip of the cap to the highest ranking regiment of infantry in the British Army and refers to the fur gaps worn by the guards at Buckingham Palace.

Key West Fighting Conchs: Marker Zero brings the most furthest south high school in the continental United States and the Fighting Conchs has a good touch to it. With an area that is ripe with the seashell on the beaches, it absolutely resonates with locals.

Lakeland Dreadnaughts: Some of you might be wondering what is a Dreadnaught? It’s another name for battleship, as they were regarded to during World War I. Though it’s not very specific to Polk County whatsoever, it’s definitely a unique name no other school holds.

MAST Academy Makos: There is nothing like a mascot name you can sink your teeth into, or vice versa. The mako is powerful, fast and deadly, everything you would want in competition.

Miami Beach Hi Tides: Pretty sure Miami Beach High School is the lone school in the country that bears the mascot name Hi Tide. Surprisingly not a name taken by a high school out in California or Hawaii, but it’s unique and right on the beach.

Poplar Springs Atomics: Named by a sports writer, of all things, the name was adopted in 1948, just after the first atomic bombs were dropped, to describe the school's athletes as explosive.

Ridge Community Bolts: Did someone say lightning? Well, Polk County is no stranger to thunderstorms as they are pretty close to where the lightning capital of the state is (Tampa). So being named the Bolts is fitting for being a thunderstruck county.

Seabreeze Sandcrabs: You don’t have to go far from the actual high school to get to the beautiful beaches at Daytona Beach to find yourself some sand crabs crawling around. Another school with a perfect mascot name for the area, region they reside out of.

Sickles Gryphons: Mythology often plays a role in the names of the mascots and the extremely powerful gryphon creature represents the athletes at Sickles well.

Tarpon Springs Spongers: Now we’re talking when it comes to area specific kinda names. Tarpon Springs is the sponge capital in the state of Florida and it’s fitting they are dubbed the Spongers. Just visit the Tarpon Springs’ Sponge Docks one time and you’ll get the picture.

Andy Villamarzo can be reached at andyvillamarzo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @Andy_Villamarzo.