The Memory

Did you know that before we proudly became the Dolphins, there was a brief period when we cheered for… the Jaguars? That’s right! In January of 1966, the student newspaper Wee-Try Weakly (yes, its true—but feeble—name) reported that students voted for the school colors to be green & white and the mascot to be the fierce Jaguars. However the news was premature and, as with many great high school controversies, the story raged on. According to Paul, a veteran of the fierce Mascot Battle, the dolphin was nominated as our symbol because it reminded students of the golden “shachi” (the mythical creature slightly reminiscent of a dolphin) atop Nagoya Castle. With no Google back then—just a quick glance at the castle, a little debate, and voilà—the Dolphins faction was born!

Apparently, Paul was part of the Dolphins camp, while John led the Jaguars. The two locked horns (or fins and claws, perhaps?) in the Great-Mascot-Debate-of-'67 that resulted in a second vote where the Dolphins proudly swam to victory.
 
In October 1967, the Wee-Try Weakly was finally able to correctly, and with finality, announce, with a slight spelling hiccup, that “Dolfins” had triumphed in the mascot showdown. Yes, “Dolfins” (spelling wasn’t their strong suit back then), and here we are today, spell checked and proudly cheering for our aquatic ambassadors.

Go Dolphins!—spelling mistakes and all!

Back to Alumni Memories