WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau School Board has selected the color scheme for the district’s unified Junior and Senior High School beginning in 2025- and a focus group will be convened to help select the mascot that goes with those colors.
Board members voted unanimously on Monday to set the colors but requested more research and discussion regarding a mascot, saying they want something that will honor the city’s history while creating new traditions for students that will soon be graduating from a single public high school. “All of us, and many in the community, are on board with rebranding and bringing a new or revised culture for the students to rally behind,” said Board Member Jon Creisher.
Leaders agreed that both the Warrior and Lumberjack are off the table. Board Member Cory Sillars conducted an impromptu survey during a weekend trip with his son’s baseball team, gathering input from families representing both the East and West. They all agreed that the best way forward was to retire the current mascots. “That time [of being a Warrior or a Lumberjack] is going to be done. It’s important that everyone [gets behind] whatever the ‘new’ is.”
The rest of the board agreed, saying the overwhelming majority of their conversations have called for a completely new mascot and color scheme that honors the two previous mascots; red from East’s Lumberjack and blue from West’s Warrior. Those who spoke during public input also agreed that the best option would be to create a brand new identity to “build a bridge and unify our kids.”
The new unified Junior and Senior High Schools are slated to open in the fall of 2025. The current East High School will become the Junior High campus, while West will become the Senior High. It’s all part of the district’s restructuring plan, which also involves the closure and merger of some elementary schools.
