The School Mascot: Appropriate or Not?

Some mascots fit perfectly with their schools and student bodies. Take, for instance, the Cougars of Capistrano Valley--yes, mountain lions do roam a nearby wilderness park--the Laguna Beach Artists and the Huntington Beach Oilers.

Some mascots, on the other hand, are more the product of alliteration: Cypress Centurions, Estancia Eagles.

Hot Topics wonders: “What would be a more appropriate nickname/mascot for your school than the one it now has? Why?”

“The gorilla, because it symbolizes strength, which is why our wrestling team uses that mascot.”

David Reinhard, 14, freshman,

Santa Margarita (Eagles)

“A whale, because our school is so big.”

Cristine Hinman, 15, sophomore,

Dana Hills (Dolphins)

“Wildebeests, because it sounds vicious, and that’s how Connelly girls are when they see guys.”

Lillian Copeland, 17, senior,

Connelly (Koalas)

“A sea gull, because we’re always enhanced by the presence of hundreds of sea gulls at our school.”

Seema Mehta, 15, sophomore,

Ocean View (Seahawks)

“I like the owl, because as the saying goes--wise as an owl. We’re scholastically inclined.”

Carolyn Bedrosian, 17, senior,

Saddleback (Roadrunners)

“Dolphins, because they have their solitude in the ocean but when they need their friends, they’re always there for them.”

Tammy Foster, 15, sophomore,

Santa Margarita (Eagles)

“We should be called the Forfeiters.”

Darien Winkley, 18, senior,

Huntington Beach (Oilers)

“Koala has got to go. Connelly Comanches, because it has a feeling of victory.”

Kelly Koenig, 17, senior,

Connelly (Koalas)

“Dana Hills Dinosaurs, because we roam around the school.”

Diana Debellis, 16, junior,

Dana Hills (Dolphins)

“The Saints, because they are holy, giving and sharing.”

David Mino, 14, freshman,

Santa Margarita (Eagles)

“A surfer, because of the beach, and because of the Op pro. The town’s turning its economy away from the oil and more towards what people want--the surfing. Aqua would be a good color.”

Amy Wlodkowski, 16, junior,

Huntington Beach (Oilers)

“Saddleback Sea Gulls, because we’re the only school in Santa Ana that gets bombarded with sea gulls.”

Toni Brito, 17, senior,

Saddleback (Roadrunners)

“Consultative Koalas, because it has alliteration to it.”

Mona Roy, 17, senior,

Connelly “Koalas”

“The Dana Hills Dukes, because it’s a great name.”

Damien Collins, 14, freshman,

Dana Hills (Dolphins)

“Billy goats, because our school is surrounded by hills.”

Heidi Weseloh, 14, freshman,

Santa Margarita (Eagles)

“The Tigers, because orange and black--those are our school colors--would go good with a tiger.”

Dan Greer, 17, senior,

Huntington Beach (Oilers)

“Something stronger than a sea hawk, maybe a lion, something that can hold its own.”

Owen Yano, 16, junior,

Ocean View (Seahawks)

“Platypus, because they are individualistic creatures.”

Nicole Ferrier, 14, freshman,

Santa Margarita (Eagles)

“I think the dolphin is appropriate because we live by the ocean.”

Stacy Taylor, 16, junior,

Dana Hills (Dolphins)

“The sea hawk is appropriate for the school because the school is so close to the ocean, and the setting sun is a perfect setting for a bird.”

Ung Nam, 16, junior,

Ocean View (Seahawks)

“I sort of like a road runner. It’s very appropriate. The road runner is fast and smart and it’s unique. I don’t know any school with that mascot.”

Tanya Murray, 17, senior,

Saddleback (Roadrunners)

“There isn’t anything better than our mascot; he’s so perfect.”

Carlin Jones, 17, senior,

Huntington Beach (Oilers)

“I don’t think it should be changed because the sea hawk is appropriate since it is a powerful bird, and Ocean View is pretty good in sports and academics.”

Orna Ahoobin, 16, junior,

Ocean View (Seahawks)

“I’m really satisfied with the Oilers. Orange and black refers to the orange trees and oil--it goes back 60 or 70 years.”

Chris Ewers, 17, senior,

Huntington Beach (Oilers)

Hot Topic responses gathered by Jennifer Chen (Connelly), Dana Wilshin (Dana Hills), Jane Wey (Huntington Beach), Felice Wu (Ocean View), Nguyen-Hong Hoang (Saddleback) and Suzanne Zamoyski (Santa Margarita).