The Tribune has tallied the most frequently used mascots in the state's 123 public and private high schools. Topping the list are tigers (including Bengals), eagles and wolves. There are bears and buffaloes, rams and rabbits, even bees and wasps.

Of the 70 or so mascots from the wild kingdom, the vast majority are native to Utah, or used to be, such as the Lynx of Salt Lake Lutheran.

"I think [schools] try to capture the positive things in the object or individual, animal, bird or whatever they are emulating," said Paul Hansen, director of high schools for Granite School District. "You want your mascot to tie into the school."

Not surprisingly, many schools have looked to Utah's wealth of wildlife for inspiration.

"Wolves are the best because we're ferocious and cunning and fast," said Austen Whitaker, a Silverwolves mascot of Riverton High School. "And we command respect."

Eagles are tops among the birds of prey, a group second in popularity only to the feline family of tigers and other fast, ferocious wildcats.

"I'm not sure where they came up with it, but the eagle has represented strength and courage, and the kids love it," said Shaunda Trimmer, cheer coach and adviser for Skyline High School.

As demonstrated by the tigers, the exotic also beckons. Consider, for example, the East Leopards, West Jordan Jaguars, Payson Lions, even the Meridian Mongooses.

Apparently Utah's desert tortoise and brine shrimp didn't strike a chord with anyone. Which then brings up the question - who comes up with these mascots?

"There is usually a committee of students, community members and administrators that come up with ideas for the mascot and school colors. Then they wait for school board's approval," said Hansen.

"The students and community chose the school mascot and colors," said Craig Hansen, principal of the newly built Syracuse High School. "We got some 1,400 e-mails, compiled the top five suggestions, and then let the incoming students vote for the one they liked the best."

The results? Syracuse Titans: navy blue, forest green, black and white.

Many of the the older high-school records are lost. A revealing clue about the original process of coming up with school mascots, though, may be the consistent use of alliteration: Cottonwood Colts, Davis Darts, Timpanogos Timberwolves, Woods Cross Wildcats.

Other schools seem to have drawn from the area's history: Park City Miners, Monticello Buckaroos, Lehi Pioneers, Granite Farmers, Carbon Dinos, Manti Templars, Jordan Beetdiggers. Greek, Roman and American Indian names also are popular for mascots outside the animal kingdom.

"Mascots, school colors and names, those are the common threads that link the past with the present," said Hansen with the Granite School District. "You want to preserve the history and tradition."

agreenleigh@sltrib.com

FELINES (24)

Bobcats: Panguitch; Sky View

Cougars: Kearns; Monument Valley; Navajo Mountain; Union

Jaguars: West Jordan

Leopards: East

Lions: Intermountain Christian; Payson

Lynx: Salt Lake Lutheran

Panthers: Pineview; West

Tigers: Brighton (Bengals); Hurricane; Milford; Ogden; Orem; Tabiona; Wasatch Academy (7)

Wildcats: Richfield; South Summit; Wendover; Woods Cross

BIRDS OF PREY (11)

Eagles: Duchesne; Juan Diego; Layton Christian; Millard; Skyline; West Ridge Academy (6)

Falcons: Canyon View; Clearfield

Hawks: Alta; North Sanpete; West Desert

Bulldogs: Gunnison Valley; Judge Memorial; Provo

Huskies: Hillcrest

Badgers: Wayne

Bears/Grizzlies: Bear River; Copper Hills; Logan; Mountain View (Bruins);

Beavers: Beaver

Bees: Box Elder

Buffaloes: Tooele (White Buffaloes); Valley

Colts: Cottonwood

Long Horns: Altamont

Mongooses: Meridian

Mustangs: Bryce Valley; Dugway; Manila; Mountain Crest

Rabbits: Delta

Rams: Highland; Parowan; South Sevier

Raven: Waterford

Wasps: Juab; Wasatch

Wolverines: Hunter

MYTHOLOGICAL/EXTINCT CREATURES: (3)

Dinos: Carbon

Thunderbirds: Timpview

Winged lions: Rowland Hall/St. Marks