There is currently a fierce rivalry occurring between Dr. Karl Kovacs and Mrs. Bessy Albaugh’s freshmen magnet biology classes over cats and pickles.

“It’s a competition to determine supremacy,” Dr. Kovacs said.

The rivalry between the two classes began on the first day of school, when Dr. Kovacs’ seventh period biology class had a debate over whether a painting on the classroom wall was a pickle or a gherkin. (The class consensus was that it was a gherkin.)

Dr. Kovacs’ period of magnet biology began to discuss pickles almost every day that week, and determined that their class mascot would be a pickle. Mrs. Albaugh’s class got roped in, and it was decided that their mascot of the year would be a cat, spurred by Mrs. Albaugh’s pet cat and love for cats. 

The students have strong opinions and loyalty to their class and mascot.

“There’s no point in feuding…we all know that cats are better,” freshman Mira Ray said.

And so the rivalry began. Now each class has a theoretical mascot, but they decided to get physical mascots as well. Each class now has at least one stuffed animal of a pickle or cat depending on their mascot. Mrs. Albaugh’s class has a cat named Skelecat, while Dr. Kovacs’ class has a pickle named Picklezilla.

On Fridays, the biology classes each open a mystery bag with either a cat or pickle stuffed animal inside.

“It’s motivating to students because as long as we stay on task, we get to open the mystery bag,” freshman Taylor Morrison said.

The intense rivalry between the classes and biology teachers has been occurring for years now, which has laid the groundwork for another dispute this year. 

“Last year, Dr. K’s students adopted a creepy bunny in response to Ms. Albaugh’s class having a cute bunny for a mascot. The classes went back and forth stealing and messing with the other class bunny,” Morrison said.

Additionally, Dr. Kovacs even created a design-a-quiz-question assignment for a quiz that would be given the following day. The quiz was on ecology, but multiple questions were about pickles.

Students in Dr. Kovacs’ class have also started an Instagram account for the pickle stuffed animal, and regularly post pictures relating to the pickle mascot. 

The teachers support their students in the mascot controversy.

“Always challenge the normal. And support the pickles. Support all pickles and gherkins alike,” Dr. Kovacs said.