SUA students love the Bulldog mascot, but few know how the bulldog became Saint Ursula’s official mascot. It began with the Class of 1973. The 70’s was a time when women’s sports were significantly changing. The GGCL had started and girls’ high school athletics were beginning to focus more on competition than the social aspect.
As the ladies who were there tell it, it all started at the lunch table.
Julie Bradley Curl, Carla Donisa Hafner, Holly Kuerze Laake, Beth Horn, and
Judy Mayer Custodio were part of a group of students talking about an upcoming volleyball game.
“All the boys’ schools had a mascot. Why not SUA?” That’s when they decided they needed their own mascot. “We wanted girls’ high school sports to be somehow affirmed, and with everything going on with the women’s movement, we wanted to bring SUA sports into a new era and keep up with the guys.
There were many rumors over the years about the origin of the name, but one of the creators, Judy Mayer Custodio, spoke with SUA to set the record straight. “No, the real Saint Ursula did not own a pet bulldog. No, spiked collars were not in fashion in 1973. No, the girls were not inspired by Mr. Yost’s (teacher) face pressed against a window. We wanted the ugliest, toughest, silliest, most memorable mascot known to womankind. We agreed that we wanted something strong and tough—no Lady this or that! After bags of potato chips and several Reese Cups were devoured, the Bulldog was chosen."
Custodio remembers people laughing at the Bulldog the first year, but by the following year the mascot was a beloved and permanent member of the SUA family. She said the Class of 1973 wanted “a symbol that would unite the entire student body—each class, each organization, and even the faculty.” In fact, all the Greater Catholic girls’ schools followed SUA’s lead and adopted a mascot of their own.
The Bulldog became the focal point of school spirit and remains that way to this day. With the blessings of the Sisters and the administration, the seniors and juniors of GAA began the publicity with signs, etc.
“At our first pep rally we had a paper mache Bulldog head (worn by Diane Kuechly) and the Marian flea, played by Connie
Frick. To tie for the varsity crown, we needed to beat Marian. Julie Bradley and I visited every homeroom to ask the students to please attend the game. They did: the gym was packed and we beat undefeated Marian.” Judy describes it as the most school spirit she had seen in 4 years!
“I know some years later, late 70’s early 80”s, they had a vote to consider changing the mascot to a flamingo. The original Bulldogs were aghast!” Judy Wimberg, principal in the 80’s, recalls the effort to change to a flamingo. "Imagine how different SUA would be today without the Bulldog!!"