Fight for the Fish: Record-breaker or history-maker

COEUR d’ALENE — That first Fight for the Fish, in February 1999, Coeur d'Alene High School lost the varsity game, but the vivacious Viking spirit roared and soared to capture the spirit fish, which found its first home at CHS.

"I told the kids as a player, an assistant coach and a coach, I don't think I've ever experienced anything like this," Lake City High School basketball coach Jim Winger said in a Press article the next day. "It was an honor to be out there."

The following year, it was LCHS' turn to bring home the coveted fish. Then CHS the next year. Then LCHS for four years. Then CHS for three. Then LCHS. Then CHS.

And that was the last time the halls of CHS saw the fish. LCHS has been victorious in spirit every Fight for the Fish tournament since 2011.

One more win makes it a record "10-peat" for the Timberwolves.

But if the Vikings prevail, the fish will swim back to CHS for the first time in a decade.

Vikings vs. Timberwolves. Wild Wild West vs. the Empire of the Fish.

For both schools, this epic event will be one for the record books.

"I’m really confident in our school," LCHS ASB President Jacob Baker said Wednesday, standing in the crowded school cafeteria where the fish is proudly on display. "Our student body is excellent and always shows up, so I’m really excited."

"What I'm thinking is, we haven't had it my years at CHS, and I want to bring it back, along with everybody else at the school," CHS Senior Vice President Trevor Drummond said in a phone interview earlier in the week. "I feel hope at the school this year. Everyone's in on it — our administrators, the teachers, the students. It feels different this year."

School spirit posters are plastered throughout both schools, where students have been dressing up during themed days all week to show their school pride.

During Meme Day at LCHS, one student walked around with a giant foam Vladimir Putin head mask and senior Lauren Hoffman dressed as Robin from "Stranger Things," complete in the blue and white Scoops Ahoy uniform.

"I think it's great we have more spirit than all the other schools," Lauren said. "This will be the first (Fight for the Fish) game I'll ever be going to. Hopefully we'll win. That would be pretty amazing."

At CHS, students rocked copious amounts of plaid and cowboy hats on Country vs. Country Club Day.

Sophomore Kenzie Eppey wore her cowboy hat "to support my school."

"It's the start of a new decade," she said. "We could do this."

"If everybody tries and dresses up and doesn't think that it's silly, then we will win," said sophomore Paige Crabb.

Trevor, who leads the Blue Zoo Crew spirit club at CHS, rallied with fellow Vikings to make a video depicting his school's determination to break their rival's winning streak. "Operation Trout: FFTF 2020" has been viewed nearly 5,000 times on social media. It was filmed in November and shot in the abandoned Silver Valley town of Burke, giving it a true Wild West showdown feel.

"Just thinking about it being their 10th year, I want to put an end to it," he said. "I want to get that fish back."

The Fight for the Fish has been a longstanding tradition for the cross-town rivals that began just a few years after LCHS became Coeur d'Alene's second high school. LCHS' first principal and former CHS principal John Brumley said the idea came about when the two schools' student councils came together to create a friendly rivalry game similar to the Stinky Sneaker and Golden Throne competitions that were going on between neighboring Spokane Valley schools.

The tournament was christened in the most organic way for a community surrounded by bodies of water.

"We went through a whole series of potential names of what we might call it," said Brumley, who was the LCHS Student Council adviser at the time. "One of the kids came up with Fight for the Fish. The minute that came out, it was like, 'Boom! That's it!'" Brumley was tasked with finding a trophy to represent this new showdown. After a couple weeks of searching, he found the 40-plus-inch carved wooden fish in a Hayden sporting goods store.

It was sturdy enough to be handled by teenagers and perfect for the job.

"He's been dropped on a number of occasions," Brumley said, chuckling. "He had a pretty good chip taken out of a fin that we had to repair, but he survived it. He got back into play."

Fight for the Fish evolved from two boys basketball games to a girls and a boys game, so event-goers still get double the court action on this hallowed night.

The fish is awarded to the school that exhibits the most spirit, which usually means blown eardrums and scorched throats for all who contribute to the noise level in the gym.

But from the beginning, it's also been for a good cause. Each year, both schools conduct fundraising campaigns that benefit the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations, an organization that supports and promotes human rights in North Idaho.

One or two individuals are always recognized between games, as well.

"This year we are honoring Joe Partington, LCHS teacher and former CHS teacher, and Mike Nelson, former CHS teacher and district curriculum director," said LCHS Principal Deanne Clifford. "Each of these fine men have been connected to both of our high schools for many years and have had a huge impact on our district students."

So even though it's a rivalry, the students are actually working together for the greater good. That's part of why good sportsmanship and positivity have always been at the core of Fight for the Fish.

"The whole idea for the Fight for the Fish was to have a fundraiser for a worthy cause," Brumley said. "It isn't just the spirit competition and the fish; it's a chance for the schools to work together and raise thousands of dollars over the years."

In the beginning, the rivalry ran hot because LCHS was a brand new school with a gym that could hold 2,700 people while CHS' gym, which needed un upgrade, could only hold 1,700.

"When we split schools, it was very difficult," said Steve Casey, who was the principal at CHS when Fight for the Fish began. "There was a sense that all the 'good' teachers and coaches went to Lake City. It put Coeur d'Alene in a different light... That created some issues between the 'haves' and the 'have-nots.'"

LCHS hosted the tournament every year until 2003, when it was almost moved to the neutral site of the Post Falls High School Arena that could seat 3,100 fans. It was ultimately decided that the Fight should be held at CHS.

"To take it to Post Falls takes it out of the community," Brumley said in a 2003 Press article. "There was the issue of how many kids would go, and how many fans would go. It's a Coeur d'Alene event, and I think it's something we need to keep in Coeur d'Alene."

It was viewed as a necessity to keep the competition in its hometown because it's the biggest game of the year. Even students who never attend sporting events will paint their faces, throw on their spirit shirts and rally for their schools.

"I don't think anything energizes our kids like the Fight for the Fish," Brumley said. "Kids come to that game that wouldn't come to any other game of the year. When you put that T-shirt on and you're with your classmates and your school, there's something very bonding about it."

It's the one loud night of the year when students from both schools are under one roof, all wanting the same thing: that fish, which is awarded by a panel of judges (students from other high schools) who critique each school on school spirit, student cheers, band performance and cheerleading performance.

"The good thing that came out of it is you get your kids in one school for one thing — to represent their school," Casey said. "Sure it's nice to win the games, win the fish, but that's not as important as getting those kids to feel good, and to feel good about their schools." The principals are representative of the camaraderie as they enjoy working side by side to make the competition a memorable one.

"Deanne and I have had fun collaborating together to ensure a fun, spirited competition with sportsmanship and human rights at the forefront of our decisions," said CHS Principal Libbi Barrett. "Our students enjoy the competition as well. CHS has not been the winner for an unbelievable nine years, but the students remain undaunted and dedicated to the cause."

"Fight for the Fish is one of the most highly anticipated and awe-inspiring events of our students' high school careers and loved by all in our school community," Clifford said. "For LCHS, it brings a feeling of spirit, friendship and pride to all of our students. LCHS is always a very warm and friendly place to be; during Fight for the Fish week, there is an energy and excitement, sense of belonging and kinship that carries our students and staff through to graduation. I am proud to be a part of something so good, healthy and fun that puts smiles on the faces of thousands of people."

This year LCHS is hosting the event. The fin — er, fun — starts with the girls basketball game at 5:30 p.m. The boys game starts at 7 p.m.