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Msk jtM ■■■■El" ■■■■■■■■■■■PHHHHHHrVayHIBMHIiHH Oscar the Horned Toad, the pride of Coalinga (Calif.) High School. Earwigs, Gila Monsters. Hippos, Hot Dogs, Logrollers, Millionaires, Skipjacks, Sparkplugs, Trolls, Unicorns and Witches. At Yuma High School in Yuma, Ariz. (pop. 77,515), the crowd cheers on the Criminals, named after the 1870 s Yuma Territorial Prison where high school classes were held for three years before the school was built. In 1913, after beating the Phoenix Coyotes in the last few seconds of a football game, a spectator remarked that it "was just criminal the way they stole that game.” A sports reporter overheard the comment and published the description. Soon after, the high school officially selected the “Criminals” as the team name. In Cairo, Ga. (pop. 9,239), the town's Roddenbery Syrup Co. inspired the team name one rainy night in 1910 after the company owner ran to his business and grabbed jackets for the players. Printed on the back was "Syrupmaker”—and the name stuck. Each year, a senior at Cairo High School is chosen to be the Syr upmakers’ mascot: the Syrup Pitcher. Up north in Temperance, Mich. (pop. 7,757), Nick Olszewski, 16, portrays Maximus the Mule at Bedford Senior High School. "Bedford was a big farming place with mules and open fields miles long," says Olszewski, explaining how the Kicking Mule became the schools mascot. "Plus, mules are stubborn and hardworking.” Olszewski was selected to be the spirited mule because “he's an outgoing kid," says Bob Titus, who teaches the schools sports and entertainment marketing classes. “He gives high-fives and passes out goodies and gives hugs to little kids.” In many small towns, sporting events involve the whole commu- nity. To help Ozark High School in Ozark, Ark. (pop. 3.525), the Rev. Ted Darling serves as the school's revered mascot: the Hillbilly. The Baptist minister wears a beard, overalls and a floppy felt hat, and totes a 12-gauge shotgun. He fires a blank after every touchdown. “We enjoy the stereotype of the hillbilly," says Darling, 58. “It gives us kind of a novelty status." Fans of all ages embrace the Horned Toads and their mascot. Oscar the Horned Toad, in Coalinga. Calif, (pop. 11.668). The region’s real horned toad lizards have been the stars of the ssjEsp' Bg* •’■ft iiy MySgwM A Yellow jacket gets sweet on his cute rival, the Syrup Pitcher of Cairo, Ga. r m I 1 School and corporate mascots mug for the camera during a workshop in Palmyra, Pa., last year. town’s annual Horned Toad Derby on Memorial Day weekend since 1933. “I remember the first time I did a cartwheel at a football game and almost the entire crowd started clapping,” says Jessica Harrington, 15, who wears the Oscar costume. Among those clapping was Alexa Silva, 4, a devoted fan. "Alexa invited Oscar to her birthday party. She even wanted to be Oscar for Halloween,” says her mother, Nikki Silva. 27. a graduate of Coalinga High School. Mascots in training To add sizzle to their half-time skits and fun to their on-field antics, some mascots attend a workshop taught by Erin Blank, 36, owner of Keystone Mascots in Lancaster, Pa. (pop. 56,348). Last summer. Blank coached about a dozen mascots —including an overstuffed Tou can, a Robin, Cedar Tree. Baron and Pirate— in practical matters, such as how to stay cool in their costumes, sign autographs in paws and claws, and use props to pep up their acts. “A car shade can be a surfboard,” Blank says, stepping on a piece of cardboard and teetering with outstretched arms. “I want you (Continued on page 12) i iin ' ' Millersviile (Pa.) University’s sidekick Skully learns the surfboarding basics. Page 10 www.americanprofile.com