The Carmel Christian School student section has been long described as one of excitement. Whether the team is winning or losing, the Carmel body can always be counted on to make some noise. Despite the general energy surrounding all the students, there are a few that stick out both for their leadership in getting everyone hyped, as well as their outfits, particularly an infamous spotted fur coat and a pair of striped overalls.

The spotted fur coat, otherwise known simply as “the jacket,” is a staple of the Carmel Christian School culture. However, the thing many don’t realize is that the jacket has history at the school long before the annual tradition of passing it down was established.

Alex Withrow, a Carmel graduate of 2017, was the one who initially purchased the jacket after seeing it for sale at a local thrift store during his junior year, 2015. Withrow would wear the jacket through his senior year before handing it off to his brother, Pierce. Pierce Withrow was also a junior at the time of receiving the jacket and would go on to sport it at events through the rest of his high school journey.

Despite the jacket having been around for four consecutive years at this point, the world was put on halt in 2020, along with the use of the jacket. Despite the pandemic causing problems, Griggs Blankenburg would be entrusted with it in the latter half of 2020, which marked the beginning of the annual tradition. From that point, Aaron Mulkey would go on to receive it in 2021, followed by Griffin Brooks in 2022, and finally, Sam Bartholomew in 2023.

When asked what his initial reaction to receiving the coveted garment was, current jacket holder Sam Bartholomew states, “I’d say my initial reaction was appreciation. I’ve looked up to the people who have done it in the past, and I was just excited.” However, being the main lead of the student section doesn’t come without its drawbacks. “When the school receives hate, a lot of it does come towards me or other people in leadership,” Bartholomew states. Despite this, Bartholomew sincerely enjoys the role he played during sporting events, and is looking forward to selecting a current junior to continue the legacy.

Despite the fur coat’s popularity, it’s not the only outfit that has history in the Carmel body. Tyler Roakes, CCS alumni and current JV baseball coach, was the one who began the overall’s tradition. Since then, the coveted pants have been passed down to Kent Blankeburg in 2022 and finally to Preston Jackson, this year. The overall’s bearer acts as a “right-hand man” to whoever wears the jacket, and, together, they create an unstoppable duo.

Similarly to Bartholomew, Jackson was excited to be a part of the Carmel tradition and along with it, the opportunity to support the school. “I’ve watched Carmel basketball games since I was in second grade. [It’s] fun being a leader, and I felt like we were able to get some good hype going in the student section,” Jackson states.

The spotted fur coat and the overalls continue to play a crucial role in CCS sports culture, and many eagerly await to see who the two prized items will go to next.