New Marion mascot: Storm? Wolves? Or just Marion?

MARION — A seven-month process, in which Marion High School has tried to identify a new nickname for its athletics teams, is expected to reach a conclusion in the coming days.

“We will have the final vote completed by Sunday night, with board approval Monday night,” athletics director Mike Manderscheid wrote in an email to The Gazette on Thursday.

The three candidates to replace the long-standing Indians nickname and mascot are Storm, Wolves and no nickname at all.

Red Storm and Red Wolves were finalists in a previous district-wide survey, in which voters chose Mavericks.

In March, the decision to adopt Mavericks was overturned because the district learned the origin of the term Maverick is from Samuel A. Maverick, an early 1800s Texas rancher and slave owner.

The name was originally selected because of its definition as an independent thinker, which is derived from Samuel Maverick, who refused to brand his cattle.

After learning Samuel Maverick was a slave owner, the district reopened its mascot search.

The process began in October, when the school board voted to change the Indians nickname.

The change is effective July 31.

Comments: jeff.linder@thegazette.com