In Coldwater, Ohio, Coldwater High School’s athletic identity has long been synonymous with the “Cavaliers.” But this wasn’t always the case. Before 1940, Coldwater’s teams were known as the “Yellow Jackets,” a name that by the late 1930s had begun to seem ill-fitting to students, staff, and the community. Through documented efforts by Coach Bill Oberholzer, the school administration, and student participation, the name was changed from “Yellow Jackets” to “Cavaliers” in 1940, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Coldwater athletics.
A Need for Change
In the late 1930s, Coldwater High School’s athletic department faced growing concerns about its team name, the “Yellow Jackets.” According to The Mercer County Chronicle, the name was seen as too long, and few people could understand its relevance. Another issue was the mismatch between the mascot and the school’s colors—orange and black—making “Yellow Jackets” feel out of place as a symbol for the school¹.
This dissatisfaction led the school to reconsider its mascot. When the athletic department decided to purchase new basketball uniforms, they decided it was time to find a name that would better represent the school and its colors. The new name would be displayed on the uniforms, with plans to place an emblem representing the new identity on the trunks of the uniforms¹.
The School-Wide Naming Contest
In 1940, Coldwater High School officials organized a contest to select the new team name. Students were encouraged to participate by submitting their suggestions, which they could drop into a box placed in the school office. Once all the entries were collected, Coach Bill Oberholzer, along with Mr. Orr and members of the Varsity “C” club, reviewed the submissions to choose the new name¹.
The winning name was “Cavaliers,” a suggestion submitted by three students—Virginia Oppenheim, Rosemary Link, and Forest Myers. As a prize for their suggestion, each student received a season ticket to all home basketball games for the year¹³.
Other Names Considered
While “Cavaliers” was ultimately chosen, other names received strong consideration. Suggestions like “Orange Wave” and “Orange Crusher” were submitted but ultimately dismissed because there were no suitable emblems that could accompany them². Another popular submission was “Huskies,” but the name was rejected due to its association with a common dog breed, which was not seen as the ideal representation for Coldwater’s teams¹³.
Why Cavaliers?
The term “Cavalier” was chosen for its historical and symbolic associations. As described in The Mercer County Chronicle, a Cavalier represents a “gay, gallant, brave, and adventurous horseman,” characteristics that Coldwater hoped would define its teams. A new emblem representing this figure was also selected and intended to appear on the basketball uniforms¹.
In a 1957 article, Linda Oberholzer, a Coldwater student, offered further historical context. Cavaliers originally referred to supporters of King Charles I during the English Civil War, known for their allegiance and distinctive dress, in contrast to Cromwell’s Roundheads. The term eventually came to denote a noble or gallant escort, qualities that seemed fitting for the Coldwater athletic identity².
Influence of Xavier University
According to the 1957 article, the idea for the Cavalier mascot was inspired by Xavier University’s “Musketeers.” Someone suggested adapting Xavier’s concept and renaming it the “Cavalier,” providing Coldwater with both a usable emblem and a memorable name. The alliteration in “Coldwater Cavaliers” was also seen as an appealing and cohesive element².
Coach Bill Oberholzer’s Role and Legacy
Coach Bill Oberholzer played a vital role in the mascot selection and was instrumental in building Coldwater’s athletic programs. Beyond his involvement in the name change, Oberholzer organized Coldwater’s first football team in 1936, which played its inaugural game against Versailles. From 1936 to 1946, he achieved a football record of 47-30-6⁴. Additionally, Oberholzer founded Coldwater’s baseball program, served as its first organized basketball coach with a record of 97-41, and also held roles as athletic director, track coach, and boys’ volleyball coach²⁴.
Oberholzer’s legacy was honored on October 11, 2002, during a Cavaliers football game against Versailles, where he was presented with a shadow box plaque. He passed away on January 22, 2003, at the age of 93⁴.
Official Adoption of the Cavaliers Name
The formal announcement of the new team name appeared in The Mercer County Chronicle on November 22, 1940, with the proclamation: “Goodbye Yellowjackets! Hello Cavaliers!” The article declared that “Yellow Jackets” would no longer be used in reference to Coldwater High School’s athletic teams and that the school’s athletes would now be known as Cavaliers¹.
With this change, Coldwater High School embraced a new identity that reflected both its values and its colors. The Cavaliers name, rooted in historical meaning and local support, became a defining part of Coldwater’s legacy.
Footnotes
¹ Page 6 of The Mercer County Chronicle, published in Coldwater, Ohio, on Friday, November 22nd, 1940.
² Page 9 of The Mercer County Chronicle, published in Coldwater, Ohio, on Thursday, January 24th, 1957.
³ Ibid.
⁴ Page 24 of The Mercer County Chronicle, published in Coldwater, Ohio, on Thursday, July 31st, 2003.
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