top of page
  • Black Facebook Icon
  • Black Instagram Icon

Research Notes

These are the research notes from the Where Are the Fighting Giraffes? ebook.

Aardvarks

  • Oregon Episcopal Aardvarks voted best mascot in Oregon for Class 3A. oregonlive.com (Sept. 19, 2013)

 

Abayardes

  • Abayarde. definitions.net

 

Aklaqs

  • Inukitut Submitted Names. behindthename.com

 

Alices

  • Book Review: Alice of Old Vincennes. insidetheworldofamy.com (Sept. 21, 2016)

  • Eric Wohlford. Vincennes the Alices in Name Only. greensburgdailynews.com (March 12, 2015)

 

Amaguqs

  • Amaguq. brickthology.com (July 27, 2014)

 

Amazons

  • The Amazons live on, Madeira High School to keep both mascot names. fox19.com (Feb. 12, 2014)

 

Appleknockers

  • Leland Gordon. MaxPreps Mascot Mondays: The Cobden Appleknockers. maxpreps.com (Feb. 4, 2013)

 

Arcs

  • Charles F. Brush. invent.org

  • Speaking of Mascots. brushalumni.com (Dec.14, 2020)

 

Athenians

  • CCSC History. cville.k12.in.us

 

Atoms

  • Annandale Atoms: ‘most unique’ high school mascot in the region. annandaletoday.com (Oct.23, 2014)

 

Banshees

  • Banshee. britannica.com

 

Barbs

  • Aly Weisman. Cindy Crawford’s First Modeling Shot From Her High School Boyfriend’s Backyard. finance.yahoo.com (June 7, 2013)

  • Barbed Wired: The Saga. gliddenhomestead.org

 

Barrons

​

Battling Bathers

  • Drew Kochanny. Who has the best Michigan high school mascot? petoskeynews.com (Aug. 23, 2023)

 

Batting Bishops

  • South Carolina’s supreme mascot is a religious battle. sports.yahoo.com (Aug. 28, 2013)

 

Bellringers

  • History of East Hampton: Why do they call it Belltown USA? chathamhistoricalct.org

 

Blades

  • Ask the Californian: How did East High get the ‘Blades’ team name? bakersfield.com (Sept. 13, 2016)

 

Blugolds

 

Bombers

  • Blake Hume Rodman. Bomb’s Away: February 1991. edweek.org (Oct. 1, 1999)

  • Elizabeth Gibson. B-17 Bomber “Day’s Pay” christened at the Hanford Airport on July 23, 1944. historylink.org (Oct. 1, 2005)

 

Borderites

 

Bruisers

  • John Shearer. Origin of School Colors and Team Name of GPS. chattanoogan.com. (Feb. 7, 2012)

 

Bubblers

  • Dan Elias Bliss. The Most Ridiculous High School Mascot Of All Time. medium.com. (Sept. 9, 2021)

  • Mike Swanson. Best high School mascots in America: 15 most unique nicknames (Science Bracket). highschool.si.com. (Sept. 23, 2022)

 

Buff ’n Blue

  • Mike Swanson. Best high School mascots in America: 15 most unique nicknames (Pun Bracket). highschool.si.com. (Sept. 30, 2022)

 

Bulldogs

 

Burrs

 

Buttons

  • Nicholas Frank. New Central Catholic High School Basketball Court Named for Coach ‘Papa Joe’ Cortez. sanantonioreport.org (Aug. 18, 2019)

 

Cahillites

​

Caissons

  • Virginia mascots: Military and mighty notes of authenticity. sports.yahoo.com (Sept. 6, 2013)

  • Caisson unit at San Antonio post gives final salute to fallen soldiers. kvue.com (Oct. 20, 2009)

 

Caseys

 

Cavemen

 

Caxys

  • FAQs – What is a Caxy? lfanet.org

  • Lauren Heist. A History of Some of the Strangest High School Mascots on the North Shore. better.net (Sept. 15, 2011)

  • LFA in the Entertainment Industry. lfanet.org

 

Ceramics

  • Crooksville, Ohio – The Pottery Capital of the World. hhhistory.com (June 14, 2023)

 

Cheesemakers

  • Matt Troha. Unusual nicknames: Pretzels vs. Cheesemakers. nfhs.org (Feb. 15, 2015)

  • Tillamook Cheesemakers voted best mascot in Oregon for Class 4A. oregonlive.com (Sept. 19, 2013)

 

Clockers

 

Cobblers

 

Cogs

  • The story of the Cogs courtesy of Genoa-Kingston High School. ihsa.org. (Feb. 13, 2016)

 

Conchs

  • Ashley May. Woman who collected queen conch seashells in Florida sentenced to jail. usatoday.com. (July 19, 2018)

 

Cotton Pickers

  • Hispanic Heritage Month: Why the city of Robstown call themselves ‘Cotton Pickers’. kristv.com (Oct. 14, 2022)

 

County Seaters

  • The stories behind North Jersey’s wackiest high school sports nicknames. northjersey.com. (July 23, 2018)

 

Criminals

  • Yuma High School: Our History. yumaunion.org

  • John Hook. Meet the ‘Criminals’ of Yuma High School. Fox10phoenix.com (Sept. 27, 2018)

 

Crimson

​

Cutters

  • Dick Engelhardt. The Gridiron: Fair Lawn Cutters’ Name Origin. patch.com (Oct. 15, 2013)

  • Regina Spektor. thevogue.com.

 

Dateliners

  • Liam Buckler. Remote town in US home to only 77 people – which is just two miles from Russia. mirror.co.uk (Jan. 2, 2023)

 

Devil Dogs

 

Diné Warriors

 

Dinos

  • Amy Donaldson. High school sports: Carbon Dinos vying to be nation’s top mascot. deseret.com (March 9, 2013)

 

Divers

 

Double-Helix Dragons

 

Exporters

 

Falcons

 

Feet

  • Tyler Palmateer. ‘Certainly unique’: The history behind Webb School-Bell Buckle’s Feet mascot. mainstreetmediatn.com. (March 2, 2022)

 

Fighting 54th

  • Eric Dutkiewicz. Local basketball coach Gary Merrell gets Hall call. parkview.com (Dec. 8, 2021)

 

Fighting 59ers

 

Fighting Clan

  • Greg Tartaglia. The stories behind North Jersey’s wackiest high school sports nicknames. northjersey.com (July 23, 2018)

 

Flivvers

  • Calvin Lewis. How’d they get that name? The story behind the Kingsford Flivvers. upmatters.com (Nov. 3, 2016)

 

Flying Flucos

  • Flying Flucos. urbandictionary.com

  • ​

Fourteeners

  • Lindsey Smith. Colorado’s 7 most unique high school nicknames gazette.com (April 26, 2021)

  • What are 14ers? 14ers.com.

 

Galloping Ghosts

  • Ryan Genova. History with Mike: The story of Harold ‘Red’ Grange and the Abington Galloping Ghosts. glensidelocal.com (July 5, 2023)

 

Generals

 

Ghosts

  • Greg Tartaglia. The stories behind North Jersey’s wackiest high school sports nicknames. northjersey.com (July 23, 2018)

 

Glarner Knights

  • Steven Okonek. Most Unique Mascot Challenge. onfocus.news (Aug. 14, 2019)

 

Go-Devils

 

Goldbugs

 

Golddiggers

 

Grunts

 

Gumbies

  • Why Gumby? – Fact 18 of 50. gmvs.org

Research Notes Continued

​​Halfbreeds

  • Dan Joling. Alaska high schools feature Indian nicknames. Associated Press. rutlandherald.com (Sept. 11, 2005)

 

Hambletonians

 

Hay

 

Hematites

 

Hippos

​

Hoboes

  • Brian Hughes. The man who helped name the Laurel Hill Hoboes. houmatoday.com (April 5, 2016)

 

Hodags

 

Hot Dogs

  • Kyle Neddenriep. From Hot Dogs to Apple Boys, Indiana has a unique mascot history. indystar.com (May 27, 2017)

 

Hubs

  • Hub City History hagertownmd.org

  • Michael Mesce. Day 11 – Nearing the End of Chapter 11 (NY/Pennsylvania) bikeforjed.wixsite.com (June 25, 2021)

  • Sarah Wynn. Jordan Public Schools to unveil updated mascots swnewsmedia.com (Sept. 18, 2018)

  • Which Illinois high school has the coolest nickname? Here are our favorites rrstar.com (Oct. 29, 2021)

 

Island Foxes

 

Iwa

 

Jeeps

 

Jeffs

  • 20 weird and wonderful Nebraska high school mascots? journalstar.com (Sept. 15, 2022)

 

Jug Rox

 

Jungaleers

  • Jojo Girard. The 10 Most Unique Michigan High School Mascots. wfgr.com (Sept. 9, 2022)

 

Ka Makani

 

Kewpies

  • Unusual Nicknames: Hickman High School Kewpies. nfhs.org (Nov. 21, 2014)

 

Knickerbockers

 

Koncrete Kids

​

Kraken

  • Sea monsters and their inspiration: serpents, mermaids, the kraken and more. nhm.ac.uk

 

Liberators

  • Bolivar High School – Bolivar, MO. Nationalblueribbonschools.ed.gov

 

Little Johns

 

Maniacs

 

Martians

 

Mighty Bookers

 

Millionaires

  • John Beauge. ‘Home of the millionaires’ has new meaning in Williamsport – heroin sales. pennlive.com. (June 14, 2014)

  • Massachusetts school to keep ‘Millionaires’ mascot name. apnews.com (March 1, 2018)

 

Modeltowners

  • Will Hunter. How’d they get that name? Ishpeming and Gwinn. upmatters.com (Nov. 4, 2016)

 

Moguls

 

Nanooks

 

Nimrods

  • Unusual Nicknames: Watersmeet Nimrods. nfhs.org (Jan. 22, 2015)

 

Noises

  • Peter Marteka. Taking in the sights and sounds of Machimoodus and Sunrise State Parks. ctinsider.com. (May 12, 2022)

 

Obezags

  • Family Notebook. Issuu.com/thekeyschool pp 6-7.

  • Zag Fund. keyschool.org

 

Ogichidaa

 

Orabs

  • Owen Siebring. What’s an Orab? Siouxland News investigates. siouxlandnews.com. (March 30, 2020)

 

Oredockers

  • Goeltz came up with Oredockers nickname. apg-wi.com (July 8, 2016)

​

Oysters

  • Jeff Caspersen. Meloneers, Oysters, Beetdiggers: Mascots provide smorgasbord. postindependent.com (Feb. 12, 2008)

 

Peglegs

  • Peter Stuyvesant Scarce Document Signed in 1651 Description. auction.universityarchives.com (Sept. 29, 2021)

 

Pendragons

  • Jerry Guenther. Pender’s mascot shows it to be lead dragon. norfolkdailynews.com (Oct. 2, 2014)

 

Piasa Birds

  • Piasa Bird. riversandroutes.com

 

Pied Pipers

  • Pied Piper of Hamelin. britannica.com

 

Presidents

  • Welcome to Quincy. quincyma.gov

 

Pretzels

  • About FSD145: Pretzel Pride. fsd145.org

  • Jaclyn Driscoll. The Story of the New Berlin Pretzel. newschannel20.com (Oct. 17, 2016)

 

Prexies

  • What’s in a name? School district nicknames steeped in history. observer-reporter.com (Dec. 27, 2021)

 

Purple Pounders

  • Rick Nyman. Central High School Embraces Unique Purple Pounders Nickname. wdef.com (Aug. 7, 2017)

 

Qughsatkut

  • Mark Thiessen. Alaska Native Scouts Feted 67 Years After Rescuing Navy Crew. military.com (April 1, 2023)

 

Rayders

  • Jillian Fellows. High School Mascot History. petroskeynews.com (Sept. 4, 2015)

 

Red & Black

  • Robert Fucci. Winchester School Committee votes to approve new mascot name. wickedlocal.com (March 3, 2021)

 

Red Stickers

  • Student Life – Athletics – Our Mascot. sjabr.org

 

Ridgerunners

  • Glen Brockenbush. What are the most unique Oklahoma high school mascots? highschool.si.com (Oct. 5, 2022)

​

Thunder Chicken

  • Mark McGuire. For best nickname, don’t be afraid to be a chicken. dailygazette.com (Oct. 6, 2015)

 

Tologs

  • Timithie Gould. Flintridge Sacred Heart: Behind the Mascot. latimes.com (July 5, 2007)

 

Tygers

 

Unicorns

  • It’s All About the Unicorns: New Braunfels High School. kwnewbraunfels.com

  • Luke Whitney. The magical mix-up behind one of Texas’ most unique mascots. kxan.com (Jan. 29, 2023)

 

Villains

 

Vulcans

 

Wambdi

  • Wambdi Wapaha officialy becomes new name for former Lincoln Lounge. msureporter.com (Oct. 31, 2023)

 

Wapitis

  • Stan Tekiela. Elk, moose, wapiti – which name is correct? swnewsmedia.com (Oct. 7, 2021)

 

Whip-Purs

  • Hampshire Whip-Purs. ihsa.org (Feb. 4, 2016)

 

Winged Beavers

 

Wykons

 

Zizzers

FeigenWinter Publishing

Please email any questions, suggestions, theories, ramblings, recipes, treasure maps, and of course compliments to wherethegiraffes@gmail.com.

  • White Facebook Icon
  • White Instagram Icon
bottom of page