Vote for best high school mascot in America, Round 1: Cairo Syrupmakers vs. Hillsboro-Deering Hillcats

Cairo (Georgia) is the 4 seed and Hillsboro-Deering (New Hampshire) is the 13 seed in the South region

The bracket is set for SBLive Sports' 2024 NCAA Tournament-style contest to determine the best high school mascot in America, and Round 1 is underway.

Vote below for the No. 4-seeded Cairo Syrupmakers (Georgia) or the No. 13-seeded Hillsboro-Deering Hillcats (New Hampshire) to advance to the second round, where the winner will face either the Lincoln Abes (Washington) or Archmere Academy Auks (Delaware).

The Syrupmakers earned a 4 seed by winning last fall's Georgia contest with 694 votes, while the Hillcats won New Hampshire with five votes to earn a 13 seed.

Follow along: National Mascot Tournament 2024 Bracket

Voting for this matchup will conclude Thursday, March 21, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.

4. Cairo Syrupmakers (Georgia)

During a heavy rainstorm at a football game many years ago, workers at the Cairo syrup shelter brought over their raincoats labeled "Roddenbery's Syrup" on the backs of the jackets to keep the players dry. Reflecting this heritage, the Cairo (pronounced “kay-row") football team was named the Syrupmakers, and it stuck for all sports. The school’s physical mascot is a syrup pitcher. 

13. Hillsboro-Deering Hillcats (New Hampshire)

A combination of a bobcat and a lynx, these are the only Hillcats in the nation among high schools. The red cat in Hillsboro-Deering’s logo is definitely not one you’d ever want to try to pet.

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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports