YAIAA High School Ice Dye: Central York, Dallastown, Red Lion & More

YAIAA high school ice dye is one of the projects closest to my heart. I live in York, PA. These are my community's schools, my neighbors' kids, the Friday night football games you can hear from a few blocks away. When I started creating team color ice dye pieces for YAIAA schools, it was not just another product category. It was personal. High school spirit wear should be more than a screen-printed tee from the booster club table. These students and families deserve something that carries the same pride and energy as the team itself.

The YAIAA (York-Adams Interscholastic Athletic Association) covers 17 schools across York and Adams Counties in south-central Pennsylvania. Every school has its own color palette, its own rivalry, its own Friday night traditions. I have built individual color profiles for each YAIAA school in my studio, matching Procion MX dyes to their official palettes so that every piece reads unmistakably as that school's colors. Here are some of the YAIAA palettes I work with most, and what makes each one special in ice dye.

Central York Panthers: Deep Maroon Pride

Central York ice dye is a rich monochromatic study in maroon. Panther Maroon (#800000) is a deep, warm red-brown that behaves beautifully under ice, splitting into burgundy, wine, cranberry, and soft blush tones across the fabric. The white comes naturally from the undyed Comfort Colors blank, creating clean contrast that lets the maroon gradients breathe.

The magic of a maroon-and-white palette in ice dye is the gradient range. Where saturated maroon fades toward white, you get the entire spectrum of rose and mauve tones that make ice dye so striking. Each piece develops unique watercolor-like transitions that you cannot get from any other dyeing method. For Panthers pieces, I let the maroon pool in the crumple valleys while leaving generous white space so the gradients have room. The result reads Central York from across the bleachers at Panther Stadium.

Dallastown Wildcats: Black and Gold Intensity

Dallastown ice dye produces one of the highest-contrast results in my collection. Wildcat Black (#000000) and Wildcat Gold (#FFD700) are on opposite ends of the value spectrum, and that extreme contrast translates into dramatic ice dye pieces.

The gold Procion MX is vivid, fracturing into lemon yellow, warm amber, and sunshine tones under ice. Black reveals warm brown and charcoal undertones that add depth beyond flat black. Where the two colors meet, the transitions are striking. Dark olive, deep amber, and warm espresso tones bridge the extreme contrast in ways that only ice can create. For Wildcats pieces, I balance both colors in a tight crumple for maximum pattern complexity. The result is bold, high-energy, and unmistakably Dallastown.

Red Lion Lions: True Red Power

Red Lion ice dye is a powerful monochromatic study in red. Lion Red (#CC0000) is a bright, true red that creates stunning tonal range under ice. It splits into vivid crimson, cherry, warm coral, and soft pink, the full red spectrum from a single dye application.

The white areas emerge naturally from the undyed blank, creating organic boundaries where ice pushed the dye away. The gradient zones between saturated red and clean white are where the piece really comes alive. Soft rose, blush, and warm pink transitions that only ice dye can produce. For Lions pieces, I use a medium crumple with generous dye application. The result is bold and proud, unmistakably Red Lion red, with the depth and dimension that sets it apart from any printed spirit wear you can buy at the school store.

Spring Grove Rockets: Clean Royal Blue

Spring Grove ice dye showcases one of the most visually striking blues I work with. Rocket Blue (#003DA5) is a bright, clean royal blue that splits beautifully under ice. You get cobalt, bright azure, cerulean, and softer sky blue tones from a single application. It is a color that photographs incredibly well and looks even better in person.

The white areas provide crisp contrast, and the transition zones from saturated blue to white create gorgeous gradient effects: powder blue, periwinkle, and ice blue tones that feel like a clear Pennsylvania sky on a fall Friday night. For Rockets pieces, I use a crumple that creates both bold blue pools and delicate gradient transitions. The palette is clean, bright, and proudly Spring Grove.

Northeastern Bobcats: Orange and Black Fire

Northeastern ice dye pairs two high-impact colors that produce some of the most dramatic results in my YAIAA collection. Bobcat Orange (#FF6600) is vivid and warm, splitting into tangerine, amber, burnt sienna, and coral under ice. It brings pure energy to every piece.

The black creates deep, rich shadows with warm brown undertones revealed through the ice melt process. Where orange and black meet, you get stunning burnt umber, dark copper, and rich espresso transitions. Warm, autumnal tones that feel like a York County October. For Bobcats pieces, I alternate the two colors in a crumple that creates pockets of each with dramatic transitions between. The result captures the fierce spirit of Manchester on a Friday night.

More YAIAA Schools in My Studio

Central York, Dallastown, Red Lion, Spring Grove, and Northeastern are five of the most-ordered YAIAA palettes, but they are far from the only schools I dye for. Every school in the YAIAA conference has a color profile in my studio.

Dover Eagles bring a fierce red-and-black combination that creates dramatic, high-contrast ice dye with dark wine and burgundy transitions. South Western Mustangs wear blue and gold, a regal palette where the complementary colors produce beautiful teal and olive tones in the overlap zones. York Suburban Trojans also rock orange and black, but I adjust the balance and application technique to give each school its own character. William Penn Bearcats, Kennard-Dale Rams, Susquehannock Warriors, New Oxford Colonials — each palette has its own personality in ice dye, and each piece is one-of-a-kind.

Why YAIAA Ice Dye Matters

High school spirit wear tends to fall into two categories: the cheap screen-printed tee that everyone owns, or the overpriced branded hoodie from an online sports store. Ice dye offers something in between — a hand-dyed, artisan-quality piece in your school's colors that nobody else at the game is wearing. For students, parents, alumni, and teachers, it is a way to show school pride that feels personal rather than mass-produced.

As a York County business, creating YAIAA ice dye means supporting the community I live in. Every piece I dye in Panther maroon, Wildcat gold, or Lion red is a piece made by a local maker for a local community. That connection matters to me, and I think it matters to the people who wear these pieces.

How to Order YAIAA Team Color Ice Dye

Every YAIAA school has a dedicated page on our team colors hub with full color details, dye technique notes, and ordering information. Individual pieces are available through our tie dye preorders collection. Pick your school's colorway, choose the blank style (crewneck, hoodie, or tee), and I handle the rest.

For booster clubs, team parents, or group orders of 12 or more pieces, wholesale pricing is available. Same one-of-a-kind quality on every piece, with volume pricing that works for team orders. If your senior class, booster club, or parent group wants something truly unique for the season, reach out and let me put together a custom batch in your school's colors.