After the Woonsocket/ Wessington Springs/Sanborn Central (WWSSC) Co-Op meeting last Monday, the decision to move forward with the selection of a new mascot for football was put in motion.
“The co-op has been very positive for our football program and until last year, I never really thought about the name a lot. We were the Blackhawks for football before Sanborn Central joined and then when they joined Woonsocket in other sports as Blackhawks, I suppose we should have discussed a name change then,” said Jason Kolousek, Athletic Director and Middle/High School Principal at Wessington Springs School District. “I do believe the name change is good for everyone involved — to outside people, the name can be confusing. It gives us that unique name for football that properly represents all the schools involved.”
Kolousek further explained that beyond the new name/ mascot identity, this is the best time to make a change as its the rotational year to buy new jerseys.
“The timing is correct because every five years we get new jerseys. That is this time. We would have had that cost anyway and it is already budgeted,” Kolousek said.
The colors of the co-op will remain the same — black, red and blue — and students from each school will have an opportunity to help rebrand the football co-op. After a December 16 deadline, all schools will vote to decide which mascot best represents the co-op.
“The co-op has been a huge positive for all schools and for our football program as a whole,” Kolousek shared. “We look forward to many more years as a co-op — now moving forward with a new name.”