March 6, 2013 at 5:45 p.m.
Hodag mascot moves on to regionals in USA Today poll
Hodag mascot moves on to regionals in USA Today poll
That was the emphatic reaction from Rhinelander High School principal David Ditzler upon learning that the Rhinelander Hodag beat out the four competing Wisconsin high school mascots in the USA Today poll seeking to find the best high school mascot in the country.
"We're thrilled," said Kim Swisher, community education coordinator for the School District of Rhinelander. "Who doesn't love the Hodag?"
The Hodag secured 80,132 votes, 52.7 percent of the Wisconsin vote, beating out the Ashland Oredocker, the Kaukauna Galloping Ghost, the Kimberly Papermaker and the Mellen Granite Digger. The Granite Digger was the Hodag's closest competition, amassing 55,004 votes, 36.2 percent of the Wisconsin vote.
"I think it's awesome," Ditzler said. "When I first moved to Rhinelander, I went to the activities director and I said, 'What's up with this Hodag thing?'"
As Ditzler was quickly told, eagles, panthers, lions, tigers, generals (the list goes on) are found in every state all over the country. But there is only one Hodag.
That one Hodag will move on to the regional round, where it will face competition such as the Watersmeet Nimrods of Michigan and the Roland-Story Norsemen of Iowa. As is the case in high school sports, the regional round mascot voting will bring much stiffer competition. The Centralia Orphans, winners in Illinois, received over 650,000 votes to win the state.
"We have a lot of pumping up to do to get people voting for the Hodag," Swisher said.
The regional round of voting began at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning. To vote go online at http://contest.usatodayhss.com/. The six regional winners will compete for a first place prize of $2,000 for the winning school's athletic department.
"It's the essence of what we are as a community," Ditzler said of the Hodag. "We have Hodag everything, it's a sign of absolute unity. I think that's what makes this community great."
Jim Oxley may be reached at [email protected].
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