Marc's Distinctive High School Mascot Collection: K-O



Last Updated: January 1, 2008


Welcome to Part 3 of my collection of distinctive and unusual mascots of United States high school teams. This section includes schools starting with the letter K through O. New and updated information is denoted by animated images.




Kahlotus Koyotes (WA) -- A stylized spelling of "coyotes."

Kalama Chinooks (WA) -- This name has been adopted by the elementary school and middle school, too. It could refer to either the breed of salmon (such a fish appears on the district crest) or the Chinook tribe that lived in the area of Southwest Washington.

Karns City Gremlins (PA) -- Yet another mythical creature found in this list.

Kelso Hilanders (WA) -- A stylized spelling of "Highlanders." The girls' teams at Kelso are called "Lassies," a Scottish nickname for females.

Ketchikan Kings (AK) -- Symbolized by a king salmon wearing a crown. The girls' teams are known as "Lady Kings."

Key Obezags (Annapolis, MD) -- "Obezag" is the word "gazebo" spelled backwards. The school was built on the site of an old estate featuring five gazebos built in the 1920s. Three of the original structures remain on the campus. The school's logo features a gazebo.

Key West Conchs (FL) -- The Keys' first permanent settlers took their name from the conchs (marine gastropod mollusks who live in large colorful shells) that were plentiful in the Florida waters.

King Cove T-Jacks (AK) -- A "T-Jack" may be a nickname for a young male brown bear. The King Cove girls are called "Rookies."

King Kekaulike Na Alii (Pukalani, HI) -- This means "Royal Chiefs" in Hawaiian.

Kingikmiut Killer Whales (Wales, AK) -- The village was a whaling center.

Kingsford Flivvers (MI) -- Named for a type of car, an early Ford Model T, once manufactured in the region as a cheaper alternative to the standard new American car.

Knippa Rockcrushers (TX) -- Symbolized by a burly man crushing a rock with a sledgehammer. A mine for traprock, an igneous rock used in road construction, was opened west of Knippa around 1905.

Kuna Kavemen (ID) -- A stylized spelling of the word "Cavemen." The girls' teams at Kuna are known as "Lady Kavemen."

LaCrosse-Washtucna Tigercats (LaCrosse, WA) -- This was the product of merging the LaCrosseTigers and the Washtucna Wildacts into one school. On occasion, the school's teams go by "Cats."

LaFayette Ramblers (GA) -- The school uses an old black car trimmed with orange as its mascot. The car blows fire as it makes its way to home games.

LaGrange Grangers (GA) -- I think this derives from the town's name.

Lahainaluna Lunas (Lahaina, HI) -- I thought this was a derivative of the school's name, but it turns out that "Luna" is Hawaiian for "boss."

La Jolla Country Day Torreys (La Jolla, CA) -- Named for that type of pine tree.

Lake Forest Academy Caxys (IL) -- "Caxy" is ancient Greek for "rrribbet" - the croaking sound made by a frog. Back in the early 1900s, Aristophanes' hit comedy, The Frogs, was the subject of a popular Greek literature class. The play was especially popular with students because it included a chorus of noisy frogs. Suddenly a trend was started at LFA.

Lake Preston Divers (SD) -- I've been informed this name was coined in honor of the town having the first diving board in South Dakota

Lake Quinault Elks (Amanda Park, WA) -- The school is located on the Olympic Peninsula, home to many animals, including elk herds.

Lake Shore Shorians (St. Clair Shores, MI) -- Likely derived from the name of the school and community.

Lakeview Honkers (OR) -- The "Honkers" in question are Canadian Geese, well-known in the Pacific Northwest for their loud calls. The town is near Goose Lake, which probably influenced the choice of mascot for this school.

Lake Washington Kangaroos (Kirkland, WA) -- Two stories abound on how this nickname came to be: a former yell leader preferred the sound of "Kangaroos" over the original "Hornets," or the students, when choosing a replacement, voted for a name that surely would be rejected by administrators.

Lakewood Piners (NJ) -- Symbolized by a woodsman. Lakewood is on the northern tip of the "Pine Barrens," a section in the southen part of New Jersey with many pine trees. The school newspaper is known as "The PineNeedle."

Lanai Pine Lads (Lanai City, HI) -- The girls' teams are called "Pinelasses."

Lancaster Golden Gales (OH) -- Represented by a tornado cloud.

Lanier Voks (San Antonio, TX ) -- Lanier had the city's only vocational program for many years. The school logo is a mechanical gear.

LaPorte Slicers (IN) -- This name is taken from the Slicing Machine Company, located in LaPorte.

Las Cruces Bulldawgs (NM) -- A stylized spelling of "Bulldogs."

Lathrop Malemutes (Fairbanks, AK) -- A breed of large and strong Alaskan dogs.

Laurel Hill Hoboes (FL) -- The school named the Hobo as its mascot to commemorate the post-Civil War veterans who had no homes to return to and wandered the countryside looking for possible work. As the nation expanded westward, many hoboes set ties and laid the tracks of railroads. The school sees the hobo as being independent, resourceful, self-reliant, appreciative, and self-confident. The girls' teams are known as "Lady Hoboes."

Lawless Pythians (New Orleans, LA) -- Chosen because the Pythian warrior is "a symbol of physical strength, artistry, and intellectual prowess," according to the school website.

Lawrence Chesty Lions (KS) -- They're also known as "Lions." The Chesty Lion symbol was drawn by LHS graduate and cartoonist Paul Coker in 1946. As the school puts it, "The Lion is chesty because he is proud of LHS and the things for which it stands."

Lee Academy Pandas (Lincoln, ME) -- This name dates at least to the 1940s, when a student created the school's athletic logo featuring the large East Asian bear.

Lejeune Devilpups (Camp Lejeune, NC) -- The school is located at Camp Lejeune, a major Marine Corps base. The teams are named after a proud nickname the Marines earned in World War I. The Germans named them "Teufel Hunden," or "Devil Dogs," for their courage and fighting ability at Belleau Wood.

LeRoy Oatkan Knights (NY) -- The originator was enamored with Army's nickname, the "Black Knights of the Hudson River." The school decided to copy the name, using nearby Oatka Creek for LHS. Usually this name is shortened to "Knights."

Lewisville Fighting Farmers (TX) -- The town's main water tower is emblazoned with a farmer on a horse.

Lincoln Abes (Tacoma, WA) -- Honors the school's namesake, Abraham Lincoln.

Lincoln Alices (Vincennes, IN) -- In 1923, the school captured the state basketball championship, and a local sportswriter began to refer to the teams as the "Alices." This mascot came from two possible sources: Maurice Thompson's Alice of Old Vincennes, a story of a lady who made an American flag for George Rogers Clark when he captured Vincennes from the British, or Alice in Wonderland, with its themes of magic and hope.

Lincoln Links (NE) -- Likely derived from the school's name and symbolized by links in a chain.

Lincoln Ships (Manitowoc, WI) -- The town of Manitowoc is a noted shipbuilding center on Lake Michigan. This name was condensed from "Ship-builders."

Livermore Falls Andies (ME) -- Symbolized by a lumberjack. This name may be from the nearby Androscoggin River.

Lockport Porters (IL) -- This name likely has to do with local industry -- the city was a major port on the I&M Canal.

Logansport Berries (IN) -- During the 1920s, there was a saying, "That's the berries!" The meaning then was "special", or "really something." I'm not sure how that name came to be attached to LHS, but perhaps it meant that the teams at Logansport were really special. The school has also used comic character Felix the Cat as a mascot since 1926. At halftime of a basketball game that year, Curly Hupp, searching for a way to inspire his teammates to victory, placed a stuffed Felix doll on the playing floor for good luck.

Los Angeles Romans (CA) -- Represented by a soldier of ancient Rome.

Lower Richland Diamond Hornets (Hopkins, SC) -- The school is sometimes called the "Diamond Mine."

Lumen Christi Archangels (Anchorage, AK) -- An archangel is one of the highest-ranking angels.

Lynden Christian Lyncs (WA) -- I think this is a combination of "Lynden" and "Christian," or perhaps an nickname using the town's and the school's initials (Lynden Christian School). The school uses a lynx in its athletic logo.

Madeira Snails (McLean, VA) -- Keeps in line with the school motto "Festina Lente," ("Make Haste Slowly") which was adopted in 1907.

Madison-Grant Argylls (Fairmount, IN) -- Named for the residents of that area in Scotland.

Madras White Buffaloes (OR) -- Their teams are named for the sacred Native American symbol.

Magnolia Blue Eagles (New Martinsville, WV) -- Prior to 1933, the teams were known as the Blue Blizzard. They school changed the mascot to the Blue Eagles, the symbol of Franklin Roosevelt's National Recovery Act.

Man Hillbillies (WV) -- Represented by a mountain goat. The name is sometimes shortened to "Billies" or "Lady Billies."

Manistique Emeralds (MI) -- The city is near Lake Michigan. The name could come from the emerald color of the lake waters. Manistique High has adopted emerald green as one of the school colors.

Manti Templars (UT) -- This name reportedly comes from the Knights Templar, the group of knights who fought during the Crusades. Also, the Mormons built one of their first temples in Utah in Manti during the 1860s.

Manual Arts Toilers (Los Angeles, CA) -- The name comes from the school's original function as a vocational school.

Marion Swamp Foxes (SC) -- Francis Marion, the school's namesake, was a daring and successful guerrilla leader during the Revolutionary War. He was dubbed the "Swamp Fox" by British Colonel Banastre Tarleton, who complained that it was impossible to catch Marion and his men hiding in the swamps of South Carolina.

Mars Planets (PA) -- This seems to be an example of playing off the name of the town and school to come up with a mascot.

Martha's Vineyard Vineyarders (Oak Bluffs, MA) -- The school seems to have used an extension of the area's name to create this mascot.

Martinsville Artesians (IN) -- For many years, Martinsville was internationally known as a health resort with a dozen or so sanitariums based around artesian mineral water springs. The teams are sometimes dubbed "Arties."

Marvelwood Pterodactyls (Kent, CT) -- Though the school opened in 1956, Marvelwood had no athletic mascot for many years. In 1991, Marvelwood students voted on the school's first-ever mascot and chose the Pterodactyl in an effort to stand out from other schools.

Maryville Spoofhounds (MO) -- After some MHS football players had flubbed their workout, Coach L.E. Ziegler, having seen some ugly carnival Plaster of Paris pups bearing the name "Spoofhound," commented, "You fellas look like a bunch of Spoofhounds!" The fun-loving players found that remark quite amusing and each started calling the other a "Spoofhound."

MAST Academy Makos (Key Biscayne, FL) -- A "Mako" is a type of shark.

Maur Hill-Mount Academy Junior Ravens (Atchison, KS) -- Benedictine University, located in Atchison, calls its teams "Ravens."

Mayfair Monsoons (Lakewood, CA) -- Symbolized by a water spout.

McDonough Roneagles (New Orleans, LA) -- I've heard they were originally the Ironeagles but the "I" fell off the school sign and was never replaced, so they now go by "Roneagles."

McGregor Mercuries (MN) -- Named for the Roman god of speed and messenger of the gods. This name is often shortened to "Mercs."

Melbourne Central Catholic Hustler Bees (Melbourne, FL) -- Also known as "Hustlers."

Mellen Granite Diggers (WI) -- Granite has been quarried in the area for years, especially a strain called "gabbro."

Meridian Mongoose (UT) -- Named for the carnivore known for feeding on snakes and other small creatures.

Mesquite Skeeters (TX) -- A nickname for mosquitos.

Miami Stingarees (FL) -- A name for a stingray. Sometimes shortened to "Stings" or "Lady Stings."

Miami Wardogs (OK) -- The first use of the Wardog name closely followed the conclusion of World War I. Ferocious, aggressive, fearless dogs were released into German trenches to distract fire and rout the enemy in the face of Allied infantry assaults. The effective use of the “wardog” tactic was positive in establishing several “breakthroughs” in German positions. Early-day Miamians were so impressed with the spirited image of the World War I “wardog” that the nickname was adopted.

Midland Chemics (MI) -- The town was the site of a major Dow Chemical plant and now hosts a number of chemical and energy facilities.

Millbury Woolies (MA) -- The town was a site for a number of mills, including spinning mills used to produce woolen clothing.

Minden Whippets (NE) -- A "whippet" is a swift dog that resembles a small greyhound.

Mineral County Serpents (Hawthorne, NV) -- This name comes from a local legend that there is a sea serpent (locals call him Cecil) in nearby Walker Lake. Cecil is represented by a giant float in the school's Homecoming parade.

Mitchell Kernels (SD) -- The basketball teams play in the town's Corn Palace, a tourist attraction.

Monticello Sages (IL) -- A "sage" is a very wise person. The city is named after Thomas Jefferson's Virginia home, Monticello. Because Jefferson was widely known as a wise man, he became known as the "Sage of Monticello." Monticello became informally known as the "Sage City."

Moorhead Spuds (MN) -- The area is a site for potato growing in Minnesota.

Moriarty Pintos (NM) -- A "pinto" is a breed of horse with spots. The town is also known as the "Pinto Bean Capital" of the United States, so perhaps this mascot was adopted for that reason, too.

Morris Praying Hands (Houston, TX) -- Must be a religious school...

Morse Shipbuilders (Bath, ME) -- The city of Bath is known as "City of Ships." Ship construction was and still is a major industry in the area.

Moulton Bobkatz (TX) -- The girls are called "Kittens." The teams are also known as the "Katz" and "Kittens." Moulton High School was established in 1901 with German and Czech students - many who could not speak English.

Mount Carmel Caravan (Chicago, IL) --This name has been used at Mount Carmel since 1935-36. It refers to the Carmelite Order, whose members founded the school, and their roots as travellers ("caravan" originally meant a group of people on a journey) in spreading their ministry. The name also had appeal to the school because it could applied to the students, who were seen as on a journey through life, and its alliteration: "Carmel" and "Caravan."

Mount Clemens Battling Bathers (MI) -- At one time, the city of Mount Clemens was world famous for its mineral baths which allegedly could cure a myriad of illnesses.

Mount Pleasant Kilties (Providence, RI) -- The school was built on a site that included a large hill, which created a "highland." Scottish residents of highlands were sometimes called "Kilties" for the kilts they wore.

Mount Vernon Majors (Alexandria, VA) -- The school was built on land once owned by the family of George Washington. George's older brother Lawrence Washington owned the estate at Mount Vernon and built its famous mansion. Lawrence never served in the military, but held the rank of Major due to his position as Adjunct to the Colony of Virginia.

Mountain Village Strivers (AK) -- Chosen to inspire the students to strive to do their best.

Muhlenberg Muhls (PA) -- I'll guess this name was derived from the name of the town. The mascot is symbolized by a mule, as the animal is a homophone of "muhl."

Mullins Auctioneers (SC) -- Before 1942, Mullins High School teams had been known as the "Tornadoes." Needing new uniforms in 1949, Coach Red Flanders went to tobacco warehousemen for funds. In appreciation of the money donated to buy new equipment, the teams became the "Auctioneers."

Munday Moguls (TX) -- This name was adopted in 1925 in honor of fierce warriors who conquered part of India. The girls' teams are known as "Mogulettes."

Muskogee Roughers (OK) -- They originally were the Chieftains, but the story is that in the 1940's or 50's, they had a tremendous football team that played "rougher" than any other team around, so the school mascot was changed to reflect this perception.

Musselman Applemen (Inwood, WV) -- The girls' teams are called the "Lady Applemen." Many people wear shirts that have a picture of a muscular apple with "Fear the Apple" emblazoned on them. The school is named for the nearby Musselman's Plant, which makes applesauce and many other foods from apples.

Naples Big Green Machine (NY) -- Sometimes they just go by "The Machine."

Napoleon Imperials (ND) -- Recognizes the ambitions of the French general and emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

Nashville Scrappers (AR) -- I think this name dates to 1947. The girls are known as Scrapperettes.

Nathan Hale-Ray Noises (Moodus, CT) -- The village of Moodus is famed for its "Moodus Noises," strange subterranean rumblings that are seismic in origin and figure prominently in local Native American lore.

Nay Ah Shing Maiingan (Onamia, MN) -- This is a school of the Mille Lacs Band of the Ojibwe Tribe. I believe "Maiingan" means "wolf" or "wolves" in the Ojibwe language.

Nazareth Swifts (TX) -- Girls at this school are known as "Swiftettes."

Neptune Scarlet Fliers (NJ) -- The moniker "Scarlet Flyers" was coined in the late 1920's. The nickname quickly caught on and was used to describe all the Neptune High School sports teams. "Flyers" morphed into the more modern spelling "Fliers" over the years. King Neptune has been the symbol of the high school from 1897 until 1994, then again starting in 2005.

Nerinx Hall Markers (Webster Groves, MO) -- This mascot was coined by Marcella Sweeney who was a teacher, coach, and the Athletic Director at Nerinx for 52 years. Marcella believed that the quailty of excellence was a "mark" that could be seen in the athletes with their involvement in the athletic program and school activities. In the 1990s, a Crayola Marker mascot appeared to represent the "Markers."

New Braunfels Unicorns (TX) -- This name dates to the early part of the 20th century. Original German settlers of the area mistakenly thought that Prince Solms of Braunfels had an unicorn on his coat of arms, when the animal was actually a lion. The school district logo includes a fierce-looking horse with a horn protruding from its forehead.

Newcastle Dogies (WY) -- This comes from the slang term for a motherless calf. The school uses an example of the longhorn cattle breed as its symbol.

Newell Irrigators (SD) -- The town's early development was aided in part by the building of the nearby Orman Dam. The dam provided a water supply for farm and ranch irrigation.

New Harmony Rappites (IN) -- The town was built in the 1830s by the utopian Rappite community (led by Father George Rapp), who broke from the Lutheran Church in Germany.

Newmarket Mules (NH) -- The mascot name was derived from the boys who worked after school in the local textile mills. They were given all of the grunt work and called "mules" by the regular workers in the mills.

New Salem Holsteins (ND) -- The area is famed for its Holstein Circuit, which promoted that breed of cattle. "Salem Sue," a cow that stands 38 feet high and is 50 feet long, was built in 1974 to honor and advertise the local dairymen and farmers.

New Trier Township Trevians (Winnetka, IL) -- The Latin name for Trier, Germany, after which New Trier Township is named, is "Treves." This name was adopted in 1981.

Niagara Catholic Rapideers (Niagara Falls, NY) -- Probably to recognize Niagara Falls.

Northampton Area Konkrete Kids (Northampton, PA) -- The Northampton area produces large amounts of cement and concrete. The teams are also called "Orange Crush" due to orange being one of the school colors.

North Attleboro Red Rocketeers (MA) -- They are also known as "Rocketeers." The "Red" is likely a reference to the reddish ledge rock that lies just below the soil in most parts of town. "Rocketeers"probably comes from an early newspaper headline: "North Rockets to Victory."

North Beach Hyaks (Ocean Shores, WA) -- The word "Hyak" is derived from the Chinook language. It means "fast" or "speedy."

North East Grape Pickers (PA) -- North East, a.k.a. "Wine Country," is home to a major Welch's juice plant. The area's farms produce large annual crops of grapes. The teams are usually known as the "Fighting Grape Pickers."

Northfield Mount Hermon Hoggers (Gill, MA) -- Apparently named for the pigfarmers who first founded the school.

North Little Rock Charging Wildcats (AR) -- The mascot name came from a combination of two high schools. One school used "Chargers," the other used "Wildcats."

North Medford Black Tornado (Medford, OR) -- Represented by a tough-looking (but smiling) tornado wearing a crown.

North Toole County Refiners (Sunburst, MT) -- Sunburst was at one time a booming oil town, until its large refinery closed in 1961.

Northwest Piranhas (Seattle) -- Used only for Girls Basketball, while all other teams have no official mascot.

Northwest Christian Navigators (Lacey, WA) -- The school's logo is a compass rose, and their newsletter is called the "Navigators' Compass."

Northwest Yeshiva 613s (Mercer Island, WA) -- Named after the 613 laws of Judaism.

Notre Dame Jugglers (Utica, NY) -- Named for the French legend "The Juggler of Notre Dame," a story of a French monk named Barnabe, a juggler who practiced his skill in a chapel in front of a statue of St. Mary. When the monastery's Prior and Abbot tried to stop Barnabe, they saw the statue come to life and Our Lady wipe the sweat off the brow of the Juggler. The moral of the story: "If you do the best you can, God will be pleased."

Notre Dame Nikes (Burlington, IA) -- Nike was the Greek goddess of victory.

Oak Grove Lutheran Grovers (Fargo, ND) -- I'll guess this is derived from the school name.

Oakville Acorns (WA) -- The town was named for the many white oak trees in the area. Their mascot is called "Nut Man."

Old Fort Stockaders (OH) -- This name was chosen because of the name of the community.

Olive Branch Conquistadors (MS) -- Spanish conquerors of Mexico, Central America and South America.

Onekama Portagers (MI) -- The town is located on the shores of Portage Lake. Their mascot features a drawing of a pair of legs with an upside-down canoe on top.

Oregon Episcopal Aardvarks (Portland, OR) -- Their school store is called "The Anthill."

Orofino Maniacs (ID) -- Contrary to popular belief, the school's teams were not named for the state mental hospital located near the town; the school was built before the hospital. The early Orofino players were dubbed "Maniacs" due to their frantic style of play.

Orono Red Riots (ME) -- This mascot dates to the 1940s.

Ottawa Hills Green Bears (Toledo, OH) -- They used to be nicknamed the Arrows until a nearby all-girls parochial high school decided to take that nickname.

Otter Valley Otters (Brandon, VT) -- Another mascot which seems to be a play on words.

Our Lady of Mercy Villagers (Newfield, NJ) -- This school was founded and operated by Order of the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy. The school is adjacent to the Motherhouse of the Order in North America, Villa Rossello.


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