From Scotland to Star Wars, Oak Hills bagpipers set 'tune' for sports

The pregame chatter at Oak Hills 's softball game on May 8 was suddenly interrupted by the unmistakable drone of bagpipes. Fans and players turned their attention to the right field gate, where junior Nikolaus Tripathy emerged with four Highlanders senior softball players and Mrs. Highlander, one of the school's mascots, in tow.

Tripathy is one of three student bagpipers at Oak Hills, along with seniors Mason Altman and Sam Beckman. Leading seniors onto the court or field on their senior night, as well as marching athletes through the school before a state tournament appearance, has been customary at Oak Hills since 2013, when 1971 graduate Bill Frank started the pipe band. "We're almost as much the image of the school as Mr.

and Mrs. Highlander," Tripathy said. Oak Hills bagpipers have honed their skills since eighth grade The tradition actually began thanks to a 2012 Enquirer profile on Frank in which he mentioned that he'd like to start a pipe band at the school.

It caught the attention of former assistant superintendent Bob Sehlhorst, who helped put the wheels in motion to add to Oak Hills's Scottish tradition. Frank first experienced the bagpipes when he was 9 years old but didn't start playing until he was 45. For those interested in learning the pipes, he wants to start them young.