The 2019 edition of SUNY Mascot Madness started with 34 mascots from across New York State in the running to win the coveted title of New York’s favorite college mascot. Through the first 4 rounds, we’ve seen endless love and support come in for each mascot over the past few weeks. Voting has been very close in each round, with support across every social media platform contributing to the lead changing hands several times to find a conclusive winner. And so, after four, tense rounds of voting, it all boils down to our two finalists: Rip Van Winkle and Walter T. Wildcat.
Round 4 closed at 3:00pm on Friday and the results became official after careful review and counting all the bonus social media votes. This still appears to be a year of the underdog, as we see two new finalists competing for the championship this year.
How did we get here? Let’s take a look back through the tournament to recap.
SUNY Polytechnic Institute‘s Walter the Wildcat faces Columbia Greene Community College‘s Rip Van Winkle in the championship round, but only one can emerge a winner. We need you to root for your favorite SUNY mascot and help your chosen one be crowned a champion. You know the drill by now – all you have to do is cast your vote!
Vote in the Finals:
* Voting for the 2019 Mascot Madness tournament will be conducted with vote verification. Each voter will need to supply an email address with which they will be sent a confirmation email to submit their votes through. This will allow the voting to be reviewed for consistency in a direct way. All votes will be limited to one per 12 hours, after which a user can resubmit a new vote in the same game again. Email addresses will not be used for marketing or addition to any mailing lists, but simply for voter verification. All addresses will be deleted at the conclusion of the tournament.
In this round, we have an extra bit of excitement, as social media voting among the 4 games remaining will take place. Each game will have an official tweet and Instagram pushed out @SUNY. For each tweet, followers will be given the option to like for one competitor and retweet for the other. Each selection will bring an extra vote to the corresponding competitor. On Instagram, each competitor will have an individual post sent out from @SUNY with some element of their interview included. For each like the post receives, an extra vote will be given.
Mascot Madness 2019 Finals: Voting ends Thursday, April 11 at 3:00pm
Final Four
Bonus Social Media Votes from Twitter, Instagram (Walter) and Instagram (Rip):
Rip Van Winkle –
Walter T. Wildcat –
Rip van Winkle –
Columbia-Greene Community College
- Who are you, where are you from, and who do you represent?
I’m Rip van Winkle, I hail from another time, and I am Columbia-Greene Community College’s mascot! - What is your wackiest attribute?
Besides a penchant for bowling with ghosts, I can fall asleep pretty much anywhere. - What would your autobiography be called and why?
You guys know my story has already been written, right? Though if I were to take another stab at it, I suppose I’d go with The Man, The Myth, The Mustache. - What is the biggest school victory/triumph you have been witness to?
I was just minding my own business taking a nap this winter, and all of a sudden those CoGreene folks were making a racket, putting up a new building! The noise isn’t going to stop either – I hear it’s for a new Construction Technology program. - Who is your on-campus partner that helps you stay on top of your game, the Robin to your Batman?
Chef Sean never makes me feel bad for sleeping late. He just warms up a Rip-anini for me on the grill, throws me a Game Fuel, and sends me on my way to class. - If you could trade places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why?
Have you met Gritty from the Philadelphia Flyers yet? That guy is a legend. In his own fuzzy mind. - Should you make it to the finals, what would your entrance song be when you enter the final competition?
I’m fine with just about anything, but I’m really tired of anything by Queen right now. - What is your favorite series to binge watch?
Behind the Mask, the stories of mascots at all levels, on Hulu. - Everyone has a good app idea. What’s yours?
It’s like Google Maps, but it only locates bowling alleys and historically relevant ship captains. - What one fact about your school do you love to surprise your fans with?
I’m the mascot because I hang out in the mountains near campus, but our teams are the Twins because Columbia and Greene counties are twins, conjoined by a bridge named after me!
Walter T. Wildcat –
SUNY Polytechnic Institute
- Who are you, where are you from, and who do you represent?
I’m Walter T. Wildcat the SUNY Poly Mascot. I rep everything blue and gold! - What is your wackiest attribute?
My blue tongue. - What would your autobiography be called and why?
Walter: A Self Paw-trait. - What is the biggest school victory/triumph you have been witness to?
Seeing my Women’s Basketball team head to the NCAA Tournament three out of last four years. - Who is your on-campus partner that helps you stay on top of your game, the Robin to your Batman?
Adrienne Victor. She keeps my coat clean and smelling purrty. - If you could trade places with any mascot for a day, who would it be and why?
I’m OBSESSED with Otto the Orange. I mean, he’s like a bright orange ball. I’m just dying to play with him. - Should you make it to the finals, what would your entrance song be when you enter the final competition?
Stray Cat Strut, Year of the Cat, Roar - What is your favorite series to binge watch?
Garfield, Game of Thrones (I love seeing Ser Pounce). But don’t ask me to watch that 80’s show ALF…that mean alien thinks us cats are for dinner! - Everyone has a good app idea. What’s yours?
A teleportation app so I can just zap between our campuses in Utica and Albany. - What one fact about your school do you love to surprise your fans with?
My school makes chips… (nano chips, not potato chips!)
Athletics at SUNY
In terms of statewide athletics, SUNY collectively has more than 760 athletic teams among the NCAA Division I, NCAA Division III, and NJCAA ranks, as well as hundreds of non-competitive athletics clubs. Whether you are interested in playing or spectating, each SUNY school provides plenty of opportunities for everyone to get involved and be part of amplifying the college spirit in New York State.
All year round, SUNY’s mascots work tirelessly in cheering on their campus athletic teams, interacting with the students and adding to the fans spirits before games. Now it’s your turn to pay it forward. As we get closer to the finals and eagerly anticipate the results of each week, be sure to cast your vote!
