In 2017, the 5th Annual Mascot Madness tournament, our campus representatives have come ready to play. 38 of the strongest, most energetic, campus representatives have put in long hours cheering on their teams, raising school spirit, and showing New York the great things about SUNY schools.
So what makes these guys tick? We had a chance to talk to each of them to get the answers ourselves. Read on to learn a little something about each of this year’s participants, arranged by the bracket they are competing in. Then, be sure to cast your votes in each round.
Below are the Region 4 participants.
Blaze – SUNY Cortland | Finn – Suffolk County CC | Baxter Bearcat – Binghamton | Lucky – SUNY Delhi | Mustang – Morrisville State College | Burghy – SUNY Plattsburgh | OWWIN – SUNY Old Westbury | Pawz – Erie CC | Red – Corning CC | Rocky – Rockland CC
SUNY Cortland – Blaze
- What is your name?
Officially, it’s Mythologicus Pyrotechnisaurus, Fiery Conqueror of Worlds and Devourer of the Lost. But you can call me Blaze.
- What school are you from?
SUNY Cortland, promoting educational excellence and well-rounded students for nearly a century and a half.
- Favorite place to hang out in your campus?
I love to literally hang out on the 40-foot-tall climbing wall in Cortland’s Student Life Center, a 150,000-square foot tribute to fun, friends and fitness. I also hang in the library, although they keep asking me to get down.
- One fact about your school/campus that most people don’t know?
SUNY Cortland is one of the top schools in the nation for producing female physics majors, according to the American Physical Society. What, did you think all we thought about was sports?
- Favorite on-campus eatery?
The SUNY Cortland stadium complex. That’s where Cortland Red Dragons traditionally make a meal of opposing sports teams.
- Cool thing to do in the surrounding area?
Central New York is beautiful and SUNY Cortland’s Outdoor Pursuits program offers hundreds of opportunities to ski, kayak, climb, hike and bike your way through the landscape.
- One superpower you would want?
No thanks, don’t need one. I mean, who else in the SUNY system has 25 team national championships and more than 100 individual national championships? I’ll pass. Why don’t you take two?
- Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you?
Thorin Oakenshield, King Under the Mountain, Enemy of Smaug, Ally of Hobbits. Oh wait, I think I’m thinking about the wrong dwarf-related fantasy tale. Sorry. I meant Tyrion Lannister.
- What is your favorite pizza topping?
You mean besides the crushed hopes and dreams of SUNY Cortland athletic opponents? Broccoli.
- Which mascot would you team up with in a three-legged race?
Oakie the Acorn from SUNY ESF. Just picturing it makes me giggle.
Suffolk County Community College – Finn
- What is your name?
Fineas aka “Finn”
- What school are you from?
Suffolk County Community College, home of the SHARKS!
- Favorite place to hang out in your campus?
Wherever the students are!
- One fact about your school/campus that most people don’t know?
We have over 26,000 students, that’s a lot of SHARKS!!
- Favorite on-campus eatery?
We have the best Culinary Center out in Riverhead!!
- Cool thing to do in the surrounding area?
Visit my cousins at the Atlantis Aquarium in Riverhead
- One superpower you would want?
I would want to be able to FLY so I can get to all 3 campuses in a single bound
- Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you?
Happy of course, have you seen my smile?!
- What is your favorite pizza topping?
Pineapples, bet you were thinking Anchovies!
- Which mascot would you team up with in a three-legged race?
Wolfie, he’s fast & we both wear running shoes!
Binghamton University – Baxter Bearcat
- What is your name?
My name is Baxter Bearcat, but you can call me Baxter “Two-Time Mascot Madness Champion” Bearcat. Rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?
- What school are you from?
Binghamton University, the premier public university in the northeast.
- Favorite place to hang out in your campus?
The Events Center is my turf, but I really like to kick it in the MarketPlace — grab a smoothie, chow down on some General Tso’s at Mein Bowl. I need to maintain my energy for all of that mascotting, after all.
- One fact about your school/campus that most people don’t know?
The movie “The Rewrite,” starring Hugh Grant and Marisa Tomei, takes place on our campus. Yeah, the Hollywood life. It’s nice.
- Favorite on-campus eatery?
That is a tough one. Well, Chick-N-Bap has some amazing chicken and rice meals, and it was founded by a student, so how about that?
- Cool thing to do in the surrounding area?
There are tons of fun things to do in Binghamton. You can attend a Senators ice hockey game, marvel at beautiful art on First Friday, hike, ski, play arcade games, you name it.
- One superpower you would want?
I already have most superpowers, but it’d be pretty cool to climb buildings like Spider-Man. I’d scale our Clock Tower and swing over to the Library Tower like it was nothing.
- Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you?
Since there is no Zany, I will have to go with Sleepy. Hey, I tire myself out with all of that mascotting!
- What is your favorite pizza topping?
I’m partial to spiedies, Binghamton’s culinary claim to fame.
- Which mascot would you team up with in a three-legged race?
Probably the Kool-Aid Man, so I could have a sweet drink of Soarin’ Strawberry Lemonade after we win.
SUNY Delhi – Lucky
- What is your name?
Lucky
- What school are you from?
SUNY Delhi
- Favorite place to hang out in your campus?
Any of the fields surrounding our beautiful campus. I like to run free! I also like to hike the new Bronco Trails on campus.
- One fact about your school/campus that most people don’t know?
SUNY Delhi’s first athletic team, men’s basketball, only had nine members. That was back in the early 1900’s, well before my time.
- Favorite on-campus eatery?
Farrell Commons. It’s best place to meet up with friends.
- Cool thing to do in the surrounding area?
Hunter Mountain’s zip line tour, the second longest zip line in the world. Fair warning…It’s not for those with fear of heights.
- One superpower you would want?
To be able to gallop up to 150 MPH like Pokemon’s Rapidash. I think a fiery mane would suit me.
- Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you?
How about “Stealthy”? Once Upon a Time is a favorite TV show of mine.
- What is your favorite pizza topping?
Pizza? Please…I eat healthy, mainly grains and oats.
- Which mascot would you team up with in a three-legged race?
SUNY Canton’s Roody the Kangaroo because I have the speed and he’d have the hop. Plus, kangaroos can only go forward, don’t you know?
Morrisville State College – Mustang
- What is your name?
Mustang. It’s a mononym like Prince or Moby.
- What school are you from?
The best one, Morrisville State College.
- Favorite place to hang out in your campus?
The Equine Rehab Center (our spa just for horses!) is pretty great. I love swimming in the pool and hitting the treadmill, especially in the winter when it’s too cold to run outside.
- One fact about your school/campus that most people don’t know?
Some of the vegetables served at Seneca dining hall are grown by our students in the on-campus greenhouse!
- Favorite on-campus eatery?
Mustang Alley, it’s named for me and I love their pizza!
- Cool thing to do in the surrounding area?
Visiting Chittenango falls west of campus and exploring the countryside.
- One superpower you would want?
Flight. I’ve always admired Pegasus and being able to fly from one end of campus to the other would be really useful when it snows.
- Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you?
Doc. Studious, jolly and a good motivator.
- What is your favorite pizza topping?
Green peppers. Slices of fresh green deliciousness on a brick oven pizza from Mustang Alley. Now I’m hungry.
- Which mascot would you team up with in a three-legged race?
Blaze from SUNY Cortland. Those wings can only mean speed.
SUNY Plattsburgh – Burghy
- What is your name?
Burghy - What school are you from?
SUNY Plattsburgh - Favorite place to hang out in your campus?
Memorial Hall and the Field House - One fact about your school/campus that most people don’t know?
We are an hour from the heart of the Adirondacks, Vermont’s largest city AND Montreal, Quebec. - Favorite on-campus eatery?
Einstein Bros. Bagels because I can feed my brain there. - Cool thing to do in the surrounding area?
Fly across Lake Champlain - One superpower you would want?
X-ray vision so I could check the score of the game while flying outside. - Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you?
Happy because that is always me. - What is your favorite pizza topping?
Tomato sauce because I’m vegan. - Which mascot would you team up with in a three-legged race?
Roody (Canton) and Max C. Bear (Potsdam)
Old Westbury – OWWIN
- What is your name?
OWWIN
- What school are you from?
SUNY Old Westbury
- Favorite place to hang out in your campus?
Of the 604-acres of campus to choose from, hanging out in the forest areas overlooking Panther Park is by far one of my favorites.
- One fact about your school/campus that most people don’t know?
We are ranked among the most diverse colleges by U.S. News & World Report
- Favorite on-campus eatery?
Panthers Den
- Cool thing to do in the surrounding area?
What’s better than roaming around my 604-acres of campus?
- One superpower you would want?
I would like to add teleportation to my arsenal. The possibilities are endless. It would allow me to support all 13 of our teams without having to worry about getting stuck in NY traffic!
- Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you?
As a natural born leader that I am, Doc is definitely who I most resemble most.
- What is your favorite pizza topping?
I’m a New Yorker. No need to dilute the flavor of New York style pizza. I keep it simple and classic, straight cheese!
- Which mascot would you team up with in a three-legged race?
Purchase’s Perseus the Panther for sure. As proud members of the Skyline Conference, us Panthers have to stick together!
Erie Community College – Pawz
- What is your name?
Pawz
- What school are you from?
Erie Community College
- Favorite place to hang out in your campus?
Kats Korner
- One fact about your school/campus that most people don’t know?
Our College Community includes three campuses (north, south and city)
- Favorite on-campus eatery?
Statler Dining Room
- Cool thing to do in the surrounding area?
Visit my friends at the Buffalo Zoo
- One superpower you would want?
Invisible
- Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you?
Happy
- What is your favorite pizza topping?
Pepperoni of course
- Which mascot would you team up with in a three-legged race?
Benji, from Buffalo State
Corning Community College – Red (Baron)
- What is your name?
People call me Red or the Baron or sometimes Red Baron. More often, I just get tapped on the shoulder when someone wants my attention. It’s tough to hear!
- What school are you from?
Corning Community College
- Favorite place to hang out in your campus?
The Kelly Lounge. It’s in the Commons … social hub of campus. Trivia contests, live music, comedians, bingo. You get the picture.
- One fact about your school/campus that most people don’t know?
We have a mascot! Even better … students picked me from more than 200 designs that were submitted by professional designers as part of a competition that was open to the world. I made my debut in August 2016.
- Favorite on-campus eatery?
The campus garden … shhhhh. Corn. Beans. Tomatoes. Peppers. Best time to go … after dark!
- Cool thing to do in the surrounding area?
Make glass at the Corning Museum of Glass. Made my sweetie a glass flower.
- One superpower you would want?
I would be an omnilinguist so I could understand all languages. I’d be the best tour guide ever, and I could help students ace their language classes.
- Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you?
Happy … I haven’t been at CCC long, but I’ve become the go-to guy for all things fun.
- What is your favorite pizza topping?
I’m a vegetarian … with a bit of a sweet tooth. My fave pizza is grilled and topped with peaches, ricotta cheese, and honey.
- Which mascot would you team up with in a three-legged race?
Jax, from Jamestown. That guy’s beyond fast.
Rockland Communtiy College – Rocky the Hawk
- What is your name?
Rocky the Hawk
- What school are you from?
Rockland Community College
- Favorite place to hang out in your campus?
Student Union
- One fact about your school/campus that most people don’t know?
Our Technology Center was the first “green” building constructed by Rockland County.
- Favorite on-campus eatery?
The Hawk’s Nest
- Cool thing to do in the surrounding area?
Watching birds of prey soar and dive along the banks of the Hudson in Rockland
- One superpower you would want?
The ability to grow two more wings so I could fly higher than an eagle
- Which of the Seven Dwarfs is most like you?
Happy!
- What is your favorite pizza topping?
Anchovies
- Which mascot would you team up with in a three-legged race?
Boulder Bird of the Rockland Boulders
