The Sherburne-Earlville school board in Syracuse, N.Y. has made the decision to rebrand its athletic teams as the Timberwolves, replacing the previous nickname of Marauders. This change has been implemented immediately in accordance with a directive from the New York State Department of Education, which required public schools to discontinue the use of nicknames, mascots, and logos that reference Native American culture.
The new moniker, Timberwolves, was chosen after a student vote that included two other options: Wolves and Wolf Pack. Among high school students, Timberwolves received 48% of the vote, Wolves 41%, and Wolf Pack 11%. In the middle school, Timberwolves were favored with 52% of the vote, Wolves 34%, and Wolf Pack 14%.
Despite the change in nickname, SECSD’s official wolf-themed logos and fonts established during a rebranding effort in the 2021-2022 school year will remain unchanged. The school colors of Maroon and White will also be retained as part of the branding.
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