Get To Know the Competitors in Mascot Madness 2018 – Region 2

The annual competition to decide who New York’s favorite mascot is back. This year, the tournament is back for its 6th edition and ready to keep on expanding to newer, bigger heights. 36 unique mascots are getting ready for Round 1, which kicks off on Tuesday, March 13. The schedule for the entire tournament is as follows, by round:

• Round 1: Tuesday, March 13 12:00 p.m. – Friday, March 16 4:00 p.m.
• Round 2: Monday, March 19 12:00 p.m. – Wednesday, March 21 4:00 p.m.
• Round 3: Thursday, March 22 12:00 p.m. – Monday, March 26 4:00 p.m.
• Final Four: Wednesday, March 28 12:00 p.m. – Friday, March 30 4:00 p.m.
• Finals: Monday, April 2 12:00 p.m. – Wednesday, April 4 1:00 p.m.

But to cast the right vote, you need to know these competitors and what makes them stand out. To help, we were able to gather these profiles to better introduce you to the great SUNY Mascots. Read on, in alphabetical order by school, to help make your choice in Region 2:

Falco the Falcon – Dutchess CC |  Pawz – Erie CC |  Ram-bo – Farmingdale State College   | General Herkimer – Herkimer College  | The Viking – Hudson Valley  | Mustang – Morrisville  |  Leo the Lion – Nassau | Panther – Old Westbury | Wolfie Seawolf – Stony Brook University

1. What is your name and what school do you represent?
   Falco the Falcon, Dutchess Community College
2. What was your favorite athletics moment at school from the past year?
   Our softball team took second place in the 2017 regional tournament.
3. If you could major in any one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Performing Arts. I’ve been told my screech resembles the vocal style of Demi Lovato.
4. If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Aviation Science … kind of have a leg up on that one.
5. What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
   Froot Loops. I love those things so much, in fact, that I’ve challenged Toucan Sam to a cage match to become the new spokes-bird.
6. What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
   Scared pigeons … but those are best enjoyed in the confines of my own home. I brought some out once, but the girl behind the counter at Baskin Robbins totally freaked.
7. In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
   I used to like going to the Bronx Zoo, but having security guards chase you with a net screaming “How did you get out?” really puts the kibosh on a relaxing afternoon.
8. What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
   That’s easy … fudge brownies, raspberry pie, and ice cream sandwiches. Oh, wait. I thought it said “dessert” island.
9. If you weren’t a mascot for your school, what job would you have?
   My feathers can absorb a lot of moisture, so I’d probably be the top brush at an automatic car wash.
10. Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you.
    Unbeknownst to me at the time, a few years back I was a write-in candidate for governor of West Virginia.

1. What is your name and what school do you represent?
   Pawz of Erie Community College
2. What was your favorite athletics moment at school from the past year?
   Repeating as NJCAA Region III Women’s Soccer Champions and returning to the 2018 NJCAA Championships.
3. If you could major in any one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Zoology, of course, a great way to meet new friends while I’m studying the past, present, and future of fellow lions.
4. If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   ZOO 390 – Wild Life Techniques
5. What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
   Frosted Flakes, of course. They’re GR-R-Reat!
6. What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
   Wildebeest & Wild Boar Sprinkles
7. In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
   Hunting
8. What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
   CD of the movie Wizard of OZ; Soundtrack from the Lion King; and a copy of Kat Tales, 60 Years of ECC Athletics.
9. If you weren’t a mascot for your school, what job would you have?
   Tour guide for African Lion Safari in nearby Ontario, Canada.
10. Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you.
    Despite being a fierce lion, I’m really a kitten at heart and afraid of mice.

1. What is your name and what school do you represent?
   Ram-bo the Ram, Farmingdale State College
2. What was your favorite athletics moment at school from the past year?
   Anytime I get to cheer on our Men’s or Women’s Bahhh-sketball teams!
3. If you could major in any one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Urban Horticulture and Design at Farmingdale – I want to get good graze!
4. If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Criminal Science at Farmingdale – so I can catch any crooks who try to “take it on the lamb.”
5. What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
   Honey Bunches of Goats
6. What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
   Granola, wheat germ… Heck, I’m a ram, I’ll eat almost anything!
7. In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
   Sunbathing at the Long Island beaches or hoofing it into New York City.
8. What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
   My smartphone so I can keep up with Farmingdale’s social media posts;Some of our amazing architecture students to build me an indoor pool and trough; Sunscreen.
9. If you weren’t a mascot for your school, what job would you have?
   Computer Prog-ram-mer
10. Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you.
    Even though I’m a ram, I’m a born leader who never just “follows the herd.”

1. What is your name and what school do you represent?
   General Herkimer and Herkimer College
2. What was your favorite athletics moment at the school from the past year?
   There are too many to choose from but a moment would actually be a collection of all of our teams that won a Regional Championship and teams that went on to compete for a National Championship. Men’s & Women’s Soccer, Cross Country, Men’s Basketball, Softball, Track & Field. The Women’s Soccer Team had its best finish in the program’s history losing in the National Championship in overtime for a second place finish in the country.
3. If you could major in one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Cyber Security. I have always been fascinated with that area.
4. If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Sports Management. I am extremely proud of the athletic accomplishments, tradition, and integrity of the athletic department. I would love to share the model for success.
5. What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
   Wheaties, breakfast of champions.
6. What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
   Cherry
7. In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
   Hanging out with Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show.
8. What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
   iPhone, Solar Charger, & Mrs. General Herkimer.
9. If you weren’t a mascot for the school, what job would you have?
   President of the United States
10. Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you?
    It is actually General Herkimer himself inside the mascot outfit.

Here is a video of me getting hyping up the crowds!

1. What is your name and what school do you represent?
   I’m the Viking, and I represent Hudson Valley Community College, the Capital Region’s largest community college.
2. What was your favorite athletics moment at school from the past year?
   We’ve had quite an exciting sports year from our women’s soccer team advancing to the Region 3 championship game, to our women’s basketball team going to double overtime at home against Corning and winning with a spectacular three-pointer 104-101. However, I think my favorite moment is when our men’s basketball team raised nearly $7,500 for Justus Simon, their teammate who has been diagnosed with cancer.
3. If you could major in any one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Before sailing up the Hudson and landing my job at Hudson Valley, I traveled all over the world trading and doing business with all sorts of people. Now, I’d like to set up my own shop, so I’d pick the degree in Entrepreneurship at Hudson Valley.
4. If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Seeing as I’m the college mascot, I’ve learned a lot from the top-notch coaches in our Athletic program. So if I got the chance to teach here at the college, I’d pick Theory and Techniques of Coaching, one of the requirements of the Coaching certificate program at Hudson Valley.
5. What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
   Being a true Viking I prefer a full Scandinavian breakfast complete with smoked arctic char on rye crispbread, Filmjölk (drinking yogurt), and muesli, but if I had to pick a cereal, Wheaties are always a great choice for someone as active as me.
6. What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
   MMMM!!! Scandinavians eat the most ice cream of anyone in Europe, so I’d love nothing more than a delicious ice cream treat! My favorite toppings include Swedish Fish, Caraway Seeds, and Licorice, all Scandinavian Classics.
7. In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
   I love sailing up and down the Hudson on my Viking ship in the summer, exploring the Adirondacks in the fall, and cross-country skiing, a sport invented by Vikings, in the winter.
8. What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
   I would take my laptop to keep up with Hudson Valley’s games and teams on social media, my megaphone so they could hear me cheering, and of course, some sunscreen, because Vikings burn easily!
9. If you weren’t a mascot for your school, what job would you have?
   I can’t imagine having another job, but if I had to pick one I’d work in the Communications and Marketing department here at the college because I love talking to people and telling them all about Hudson Valley Community College.
10. Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you.
    Although I’m best known for working the crowd and getting rowdy at sporting events, I have a sensitive side too. I love attending art and culture events, from nationally-known speakers at the Maureen Stapleton Theater to the productions put on by our Theatre Arts majors and club members.

1. What is your name and what school do you represent?
   The Mustang from SUNY Morrisville
2. What was your favorite athletics moment at school from the past year?
   Lex Campbell’s half-court shot that made the ESPNW top ten plays of the week.
3. If you could major in any one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Equine Science. Learning more about myself would be great.
4. If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Equine Racing. I’m fast enough to show them all how it’s done.
5. What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
   Oatmeal. Raw. I’m a horse. Oats are my thing.
6. What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
   Carrots and oatmeal cookies
7. In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
   Trotting the trails around central NY is a great way to get exercise and see the sights.
8. What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
   A beach towel, a phone, and a solar panel.
9. If you weren’t a mascot for your school, what job would you have?
   Spokeshorse in Ford Mustang commercials.
10. Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you.
    My great-grandsire was Seabiscuit’s stall-mate for a year.

1. What is your name and what school do you represent?
   Hi, my name is Leo! I proudly represent the men and women of Nassau Community College.
2. What was your favorite athletics moment at school from the past year?
   I am very proud of all the student-athletes in my NCC Pride that work really hard in the classroom and at their sport!! Way too hard to narrow it down to only one, but I’d like to give a special shout-out to the 2018 National Champions on the Men’s Wrestling and Cheerleading Teams.
3. If you could major in any one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   I would totally major in Communication. I’m a proud member of the award-winning NCC Speech & Debate Team.
4. If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Of course, I would teach Adventure Activities in PE – who wouldn’t want the King of the Jungle helping them learn how to be healthy in the outdoors!
5. What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
   Wheaties, because that’s what champions eat after all. But I wouldn’t turn down a double cheeseburger deluxe either!
6. What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
   I love Animal Crackers on the top of my frozen treats, and a little butterscotch, so when I spill it doesn’t stain my fur.
7. In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
   I love running, swimming, and just Lion around at Jones Beach!
8. What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
   A computer so I can stay up to date and watch all our home games streamed live on nassaulions.com/watch; A hammock; A cellphone, so I can stay connected to all my friends on social media (@LionsNCC)
9. If you weren’t a mascot for your school, what job would you have?
   I would be the new MGM Lion Mascot, he was named Leo too!
10. Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you.
    When I first came to Nassau I was just a little cub. But I was brought up to the top of the tower on campus and I was told, it would one day be my kingdom and I had to watch over every student and athlete on campus.  I told this story to my friend at Disney once… I am sure you can figure out what happened next.

1. What is your name and what school do you represent?
   OWWIN – stands for “OW-WIN” …. SUNY Old Westbury
2. What was your favorite athletics moment at school from the past year?
   Graduating our fantastic seniors!
3. If you could major in any one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   I would major in marketing so that I could demonstrate and communicate the Panther Pride that I have for Old Westbury!
4. If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   I would teach Introduction to Motivational Techniques because I always get people excited and energized!
5. What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
   Wheaties, it’s the Breakfast of Champions! I imagine myself on the box someday…
6. What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
   Hot fudge because it’s the most popular one, just like me!
7. In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
   Visiting some of my friends at the Bronx Zoo…they think that I’m the coolest cat on the planet.
8. What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
   Hammock, sunblock, and a solar-powered laptop with unlimited internet access so I can keep up on the latest campus news.
9. If you weren’t a mascot for your school, what job would you have?
   I would have to be a fanatic, I live for supporting Old Westbury Panthers!
10. Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you.
    Despite my appearance and contrary to popular belief, I rarely lift weights…

1. What is your name and what school do you represent?”
   Wolfie Seawolf – Stony Brook University on Long Island
2. What was your favorite athletics moment at school from the past year?
   When we took back the Golden Apple after defeating Albany in our annual “Battle for the Apple” football rivalry game.
3. If you could major in any one subject at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences in the School of Marine & Atmospheric Sciences (SOMAS) here at Stony Brook because it is most relevant to my upbringing here on Long Island.
4. If you could teach one class at SUNY, what would it be and why?
   Mascotting 101
5. What is your favorite breakfast cereal to eat in the morning?
   Not a big fan of cereal, I’m more of a pancakes and eggs guy.
6. What is your favorite topping to put on an ice cream or frozen yogurt sundae?
   Do I have to pick just one? I’ll keep it simple, sprinkles.
7. In your free time, what is your favorite NY activity to do?
   I’m all about the salt life so of course, it would have to be adventures on the Stony Brook Seawolf vessel throughout Port Jefferson Harbor.
8. What 3 items would you take to a desert island to help pass the time?
   An iPhone, an Alexa speaker,  and Cornhole
9. If you weren’t a mascot for your school, what job would you have?
   There’s no other job I would rather have!
10. Tell us one secret people would be surprised to know about you.
    Most people don’t truly understand the significance behind what a Seawolf truly is – a Seawolf is a mythical sea creature and according to the legend of the Seawolf, anyone fortunate enough to view it was subject to good luck!