Elgin High School may have both a lion and a lioness on the prowl at sporting events and other activities as the Maroons’ new mascots.
A preliminary design for what the mascot costumes might look like was presented to the District U-46 School Board Monday by recent graduates Emma Valdivia and Aaron Martinez and incoming senior Uriel Hernandez-Flores, all of whom were involved with the mascot selection process.
In May, the lion bested two other contenders — a fox and watchmen — for the mascot image, as chosen in a vote open to students, faculty, school staff, alumni and the general public.
EHS, founded in 1869, has always gone by the name Maroons, but has had only one mascot, Chief Mighty Maroon, in its history. It was in place from 1982 to 2002 until being retired for being racially insensitive.
“Following the selection of the lion as our mascot, we are now dedicated to finding the perfect image of our mascot that embodies Elgin High as a whole,” Martinez said at the board meeting. “As of now, we are thinking of creating two mascots, one male and one female, to better represent the Maroon family and to emphasize our pride by creating a pride of lions.”
The male lion would have a maroon mane, while the lioness would have maroon on her tail and claws, Martinez said. Both would also have beige and cream coloring “to make them seem as realistic as possible,” he said.
They also would have the school logo on their clothing, the word “Maroons” on their shirt backs, an “E” on each paw, an “M” on their faces and brown eyes like a real lion, Martinez said. Once a design is finalized, it would be used on spirit wear, jerseys and shorts.
“It is important to emphasize that we will always be the Maroons, but now with the heart of a lion,” he said. “The lion represents our Maroon pride.”
Speaking the day after the meeting, Elgin High School Athletic Director Paul Pennington emphasized that “the image displayed last night is not the final product. It’s early concept artwork that has some of the features we are looking for in a live mascot.”
The school is getting quotes and art renderings from vendors to build a custom mascot costume, and the school will have final approval of the art and production, Pennington said.
Elgin High School Principal Avelira Rodriguez Gonzalez said the committee overseeing the mascot project does not reconvene until August.
Depending on production time and a confirmed delivery date, it’s not known when the mascot might be unveiled, Pennington said. In addition, there will be an audition or tryout similar to those held for the school’s cheer and dance teams to select the first students to wear the costumes.
“We would hope to have the live mascot in place sometime in the upcoming school year,” he said.
Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
