The answer? Yes and no.

The Nike “Swoosh” on shoes, socks, and clothing has become somewhat of a religion in Jamesville-DeWitt High School. Students in the halls and in class are often heckled for wearing no-name or non-Nike brand ankle socks and not having “lettuce” (hair that hangs out the back of a lacrosse helmet).

How did Nike become a cult? You can ask a lacrosse player, or just go to YouTube.

“The Ultimate Lax Bro” has become a major Internet sensation across the U.S., stereotyping the average lacrosse player who wears mid-calf Nike socks, neon colored or athletic shorts, random snapback hats and lacrosse pinnies. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve seen this fashion choice at J-DHS.

So why should you care? It’s just a fad, right? It should fade away eventually....

Meh, not quite.

“It’ll last. I mean, I wear ankle socks because I like them, but I think the [Nike high socks] will be here for a while,” says Physical Education teacher Jeff Ike.

“Flow will be gone with our class, but people will still rock sock game, but the flow-bots will be gone, you know?” says senior Eric DeJohn. “The kids with ankle socks and buzz cuts are dusters, though.”

“There’s gonna be no flow-bots to take over when we’re gone,” echoes senior Tim Bright. “People are still going to wear Nike stuff, but no flow. I wear it because I want to look good.”

“It just looks good, yo,” agrees junior Andrew Wannamaker.

Others at J-D disagree and find the fad irrelevant.

“It won’t be here next year,” says junior Josh Stone.

“It’ll end when the seniors leave,” declares sophomore Julia Colares.

“I am the anti-flow,” says Mr. Sul.

Junior Jeremy Wallace states that anyone that wears mid-calf socks is “a conformist.” At the time of the interview, Wallace was wearing ankle socks.

Even Principal Paul Gasparini has mixed feelings on the fashion.

Seriously.

“Flow? I believe flow is when you are very professional and effective in work. I don’t know so much about the fashion, but I’m waiting for bald heads to make a comeback,” Mr. Gasparini explains.

I honestly find this whole “Lax” movement pretty interesting. It’s amazing how nearly the entire school, boys and girls, has a pair of Nike mid-calf socks. It’s amazing how students, including myself, go out of our way to specifically purchase Nike apparel rather than Adidas and Under Armour. It’s amazing how a YouTube video can influence the way a person dresses. I know this is going to last for a while. I’ll give it five years.

Whether it’s ankle socks or mid-calves, you have to agree on one thing.

J-D had flow.