Vote for best high school mascot in America, Round 1: Key West Conchs vs. Vermont Commons Flying Turtles

Key West (Florida) is the 2 seed and Vermont Commons is the 15 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. 2-seeded Key West Conchs (Florida) or the No. 15-seeded Vermont Commons Flying Turtles to advance to the second round, where the winner will face either the Ashland Clockers (Massaschusetts) or Northeast Dubois Jeeps (Indiana).

The Conchs earned a 2 seed by amassing 20,718 votes in last fall's Florida contest, while the Flying Turtles won Vermont with three votes to earn a 15 seed.

Follow along: National Mascot Tournament 2024 Bracket

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

2. Key West Conchs (Florida)

Key West is the farthest-south high school in the continental United States, and it has the only Conchs in the country in high school sports. Featuring an area rife with that seashell on local beaches, the mascot is a big hit with locals. 

15. Vermont Commons Flying Turtles (Vermont)

This nickname came about on the fly when a Vermont Commons volleyball coach went to register the team. Peter Goff told vtcng.com, “We were asked for a team name. The school had the turtle as part of its logo, so we said, ‘OK, we’re The Turtles.’ The woman behind the desk said, ‘The Turtles? That’s not very scary,’ so we thought a moment and said, ‘How about the Flying Turtles?’ and the rest was history.” 

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