For 100 years, the name Pinto has represented more than just a school mascot at California R-1 School District. It represents pride, tradition, perseverance, community, and generations of students who have proudly called themselves Pintos.
As the 2026–2027 school year begins, California R-1 is excited to celebrate a milestone that few school communities get to experience: 100 years of the Pinto.
The story of the California Pintos dates back to 1925, when the California High School basketball team was searching for a name that would represent its athletes and their school.
According to an article published in the California Democrat on November 12, 1925, California High School athletes were officially given the name “Pintos.” “Coach Carl H. Kuhn about two weeks ago asked the public to name his team and many good suggestions were made,” the newspaper reported. The community responded with a variety of suggestions, but one name stood out.
The article continued, “Those selecting the name were impressed with the one suggested by R.R. Conrad and this one was chosen. Hereafter the team will bear the name Pintos.” The decision officially gave California High School a mascot and identity that would become a lasting part of the school’s history.
Just one day after the announcement, on November 13, 1925, the California High School basketball team played its first game as the Pintos against the Versailles team.
While the team had a new name, the Pinto identity did not immediately appear on the players’ uniforms. It would be more than a year before their uniforms reflected their new mascot.
What began as a name for a high school basketball team eventually became something much bigger.
Over the past century, the Pinto has become a recognizable symbol throughout the California community. Generations of students have worn the Pinto name on athletic uniforms, school clothing and activity apparel. Families have cheered for the Pintos from the stands, alumni have carried the tradition with them after graduation, and students have grown up learning what it means to be part of the Pinto family.
The Pinto has been there through championships and tough seasons, celebrations and challenges, graduations and first days of school. It has represented students in classrooms, on athletic fields and courts, on stages, at school events and throughout the community.
Most importantly, the Pinto represents the people who have made California R-1 what it is today.
A Century Worth Celebrating
The 100th anniversary of the Pinto is an opportunity to look back at where the tradition began while celebrating the students, staff, families and alumni who continue to carry it forward.
Throughout the 2026–2027 school year, California R-1 will celebrate 100 Years of Pinto Pride!
As part of the celebration, special 100 Years of Pinto T-shirts will be available for purchase at various games and events throughout the school year. These shirts will provide students, families, alumni, staff and community members with a way to celebrate the milestone and proudly display a piece of California school history.
The district also encourages alumni and community members to share their own Pinto memories, photographs and stories as the celebration continues. Every generation has contributed something to the history of California R-1, and those memories are an important part of telling the complete story of the Pinto.
A mascot may seem like a simple symbol, but after 100 years, the Pinto represents something much greater. It connects today's students to those who walked the halls decades ago and reminds the community that while schools, buildings, uniforms and teams may change, the pride of being a Pinto continues.
From a basketball team searching for a name in 1925 to the thousands of students who have proudly carried the Pinto name since, this tradition has truly stood the test of time.
One hundred years ago, a name was chosen.
Today, it is a legacy.
California R-1 is proud to celebrate 100 Years of Pinto Pride and looks forward to honoring the past, celebrating the present, and building the next 100 years of Pinto tradition.
To learn more about the history of how the Pintos got their name, read the News Tribune article, “Pintos became mascot in 1925 of old Aurora school.” https://www.newstribune.com/news/2025/nov/10/pintos-became-mascot-in-1925-of-old-aurora-school/
Here’s to 100 years of tradition, 100 years of memories, and 100 years of being proud to be a Pinto.
It’s a great day to be a Pinto!