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

Oak Hills girls basketball seniors pose with the Highlander mascot and bagpiper. Players from left to right: Rhianna Riep, Ava Kammerer, Ella Doyle, Giana Salzano, Karlee Parker, Serena Roberts, Bella Dehner.

Oak Hills girls basketball seniors pose with their awards on senior night. From left to right: Ella Doyle, Ava Kammerer, Rhianna Riep, Karlee Parker, Bella Dehner, Serena Roberts, Giana Salzano.

Oak Hills boys bowling seniors, from left to right: Jason Eby, George Gigous, and Gavin Johnson.

Oak Hills celebrated girls bowling seniors Kylie Ruthven, Rylee Knox, Maddie Broxterman, Ella Weinmann, and Kat Reber on senior night on Feb. 11.

Little Miami celebrated senior night for boys basketball on Feb. 6. Seniors honored were Gunnar Hoffman, Jase Hatte, Kwaku Boafo, Ean Fee and Max Green.

Little Miami celebrated senior night for its cheerleaders on Feb. 6.

Little Miami celebrated senior night for girls basketball on Feb. 7. Seniors honored were Emily Bayles, Mae Loffer and Layne Ott.

Fairfield girls basketball honored seniors Kobi Crim and Jasmine Odubola on Feb. 4. Here they are pictured with their families after the ceremony.

Fairfield girls basketball honored seniors Kobi Crim and Jasmine Odubola on Feb. 4.

Villa Madonna girls basketball celebrated Dahlila Gorman for senior night on Feb. 6.

Villa Madonna celebrated boys basketball senior night on Feb. 19. All seven seniors scored in the 75-45 victory. From left to right: Coach James Meyers, manager Drew Gray, Jay Meyers, Lucas Workman, Michael Callioni, Luke Neuhaus, Michael Popham, Drew Thomas, Tyler Brandstetter and Coach Kevin O'Day

Northwest celebrated its girls wrestling seniors. Pictured is senior Kymari Brinkley, second from left, and her family, Antoinette Williams, Christopher Smith, sister T. Smith and nephew R. Smith.

Northwest celebrated its girls wrestling seniors. Pictured is senior Zaria Payne and her mother, Staci.

Northwest celebrated its girls wrestling seniors. Pictured is senior Kamiyla Howard Johnson and parents, Keevon Jordan and Ravin Howard.

Northwest celebrated its girls wrestling seniors. Pictured is senior Nya Henderson, third from left, with her coach Dexter Carpenter and teammates E. Ismael and E. Bahati.

Reading celebrated girls soccer senior night in the fall on Oct. 1. From left to right: TJ Manning, Andy Koebbe, Ryland Brown, Brooke Androne, Addison Koebbe, Khloe Kite and Maddie Reed.

Reading celebrated volleyball senior night in the fall on Sept. 29. From left to right: Kenzie Sweeney, Payton Cooper, Eliza Schierloh, and Abby Gadzala

Reading celebrated volleyball senior night in the fall on Sept. 29. From left to right: Audrey Lunsford, Haby Ba, Brooke Androne and Reagan Stewart.

Taylor celebrated boys soccer senior night in the fall on Sept. 23. Seniors from left to right: Jackson Nieman, Brayden Schmitt, James parker, Nick Ream, Chase Ausdenmoore, Brayden Gratz, Ethan Thomas and Scotty Boesken

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Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Oak Hills girls basketball seniors pose with the Highlander mascot and bagpiper. Players from left to right: Rhianna Riep, Ava Kammerer, Ella Doyle, Giana Salzano, Karlee Parker, Serena Roberts, Bella Dehner.

1 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Oak Hills girls basketball seniors pose with the Highlander mascot and bagpiper. Players from left to right: Rhianna Riep, Ava Kammerer, Ella Doyle, Giana Salzano, Karlee Parker, Serena Roberts, Bella Dehner.

2 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Oak Hills girls basketball seniors pose with their awards on senior night. From left to right: Ella Doyle, Ava Kammerer, Rhianna Riep, Karlee Parker, Bella Dehner, Serena Roberts, Giana Salzano.

3 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Oak Hills boys bowling seniors, from left to right: Jason Eby, George Gigous, and Gavin Johnson.

4 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Oak Hills celebrated girls bowling seniors Kylie Ruthven, Rylee Knox, Maddie Broxterman, Ella Weinmann, and Kat Reber on senior night on Feb. 11.

5 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Little Miami celebrated senior night for boys basketball on Feb. 6. Seniors honored were Gunnar Hoffman, Jase Hatte, Kwaku Boafo, Ean Fee and Max Green.

6 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Little Miami celebrated senior night for its cheerleaders on Feb. 6.

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Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Little Miami celebrated senior night for girls basketball on Feb. 7. Seniors honored were Emily Bayles, Mae Loffer and Layne Ott.

8 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Fairfield girls basketball honored seniors Kobi Crim and Jasmine Odubola on Feb. 4. Here they are pictured with their families after the ceremony.

9 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Fairfield girls basketball honored seniors Kobi Crim and Jasmine Odubola on Feb. 4.

10 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Villa Madonna girls basketball celebrated Dahlila Gorman for senior night on Feb. 6.

11 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Villa Madonna celebrated boys basketball senior night on Feb. 19. All seven seniors scored in the 75-45 victory. From left to right: Coach James Meyers, manager Drew Gray, Jay Meyers, Lucas Workman, Michael Callioni, Luke Neuhaus, Michael Popham, Drew Thomas, Tyler Brandstetter and Coach Kevin O'Day

12 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Northwest celebrated its girls wrestling seniors. Pictured is senior Kymari Brinkley, second from left, and her family, Antoinette Williams, Christopher Smith, sister T. Smith and nephew R. Smith.

13 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Northwest celebrated its girls wrestling seniors. Pictured is senior Zaria Payne and her mother, Staci.

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Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Northwest celebrated its girls wrestling seniors. Pictured is senior Kamiyla Howard Johnson and parents, Keevon Jordan and Ravin Howard.

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Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Northwest celebrated its girls wrestling seniors. Pictured is senior Nya Henderson, third from left, with her coach Dexter Carpenter and teammates E. Ismael and E. Bahati.

16 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Reading celebrated girls soccer senior night in the fall on Oct. 1. From left to right: TJ Manning, Andy Koebbe, Ryland Brown, Brooke Androne, Addison Koebbe, Khloe Kite and Maddie Reed.

17 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Reading celebrated volleyball senior night in the fall on Sept. 29. From left to right: Kenzie Sweeney, Payton Cooper, Eliza Schierloh, and Abby Gadzala

18 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Reading celebrated volleyball senior night in the fall on Sept. 29. From left to right: Audrey Lunsford, Haby Ba, Brooke Androne and Reagan Stewart.

19 / 19

Check out images of 2026 high school sports Senior Night celebrations

Taylor celebrated boys soccer senior night in the fall on Sept. 23. Seniors from left to right: Jackson Nieman, Brayden Schmitt, James parker, Nick Ream, Chase Ausdenmoore, Brayden Gratz, Ethan Thomas and Scotty Boesken

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. He estimates that 90 percent of his students come from Rapid Run Middle School. That's where Altman, Beckman and Tripathy each began playing.

Oak Hills junior bagpiper Nikolaus Tripathy, left, leads the Oak Hills senior softball players onto the field before their game against Sycamore on May 8, 2026.

Frank spent 36 years as an attorney and has worked in education for 26 years. It is the joy and fulfillment of seeing his students achieve higher levels of success that make Frank proud to teach the bagpipes.

Altman and Beckman have played at commencement every year since 2023, but leading their classmates for the final time holds extra meaning.

"We get to do it in our caps and gowns. It's our last one. As seniors, we're leading the people we've known for 13 or 14 years. It's a big deal," Altman said.

In addition to his Oak Hills duties, Altman, who has four relatives who served in the armed forces, plays at various veterans ceremonies on the West Side. Upon graduating, he will attend the U.S. Naval Academy and plans to play in its pipe band.

Beckman will attend the University of Cincinnati to study at its College-Conservatory of Music. It's a natural choice for someone who can play nine instruments: the trumpet, piano, tuba, baritone, guitar, bass guitar, bass drum and drum set, in addition to keyboard instruments such as the xylophone and marimba.

Nikolaus Tripathy, Mason Altman and Sam Beckman play the bagpipes for various events at Oak Hills High School, as well as cermonies in their own communities.

"I was expecting it to be a little easier than it was. There's only eight notes you could play, which is the easy part because you only have to learn those eight and then you're good," Beckman said. "Getting up on the actual pipes was my biggest challenge. They take a lot of air."

Tripathy interjected with a laugh, "This coming from a tuba player."

Frank's metaphor for playing the bagpipes is "wrestling the octopus." At all times, a piper has to monitor the drones, their breathing, the pressure on the bag and the correct finger patterns on the chanter.

What goes into being a student bagpiper at Oak Hills?

When leading athletic teams into battle, the default anthem is "Scotland the Brave," a hymn that inspires valiant effort in any endeavor.

Each piper must master "Scotland the Brave" and "Amazing Grace" on the introductory practice chanter before graduating to a full set of pipes. Now that the Oak Hills pipers have mastered the instrument, they each have their own favorite tune.

Beckman once led the boys lacrosse team onto the field with the Imperial March from "Star Wars." Altman likes the very ceremonious and majestic "Highland Cathedral." Tripathy, who has an affinity for history, enjoys playing "Celebratum," which was written in 2025 for the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day.

From left: Oak Hills junior Nikolaus Tripathy and seniors Mason Altman and Sam Beckman have played the bagpipes at school events since they were freshmen.

Oak Hills's tradition of student bagpipers is not just audible; it's visible.

The students don a Glengarry hat, typically worn by civilians in the Scottish Highlands. They wear a kilt with the Royal Stewart tartan, the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II. Oak Hills officially uses the Cunningham tartan, which consists of the school's colors of black, white and red, but Frank wanted the pipers to have a little more color in their kilts.

They carry a sporran, a black leather bag that was traditionally used to hold black gunpowder, but the students store their phones and business cards inside; Scottish legend holds that an empty sporran is bad luck.

Despite Altman and Beckman graduating this spring, it doesn't appear that Tripathy will be the last student piper. Frank recently met with four eighth-graders who are learning the pipes, ready to bring the sounds of Scotland to the halls of Oak Hills.

"Sam, Nik and Mason have become a defining part of what it means to be a Highlander. Their commitment goes far beyond the bagpipes ‒ they bring energy, tradition and a sense of pride to every event they attend. Whether they're leading our teams onto the field, performing at pep rallies or honoring our seniors, they elevate the entire experience for our students, staff and community. Their presence connects our school, and we're incredibly fortunate to have three students who represent us with that level of dedication and passion," Oak Hills athletic director Ben Hageman said.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Oak Hills bagpipers set the tune for Senior Night, state sendoffs