As you’ve likely noticed, most schools in America tend to choose from a familiar set of mascots—hawks, knights, lions, pioneers, and bulldogs. While there’s nothing wrong with a classic choice, it can be hard for these characters to stand out. Our story today is about a high school that chose a different path—a mascot that is entirely unique to them. But to understand how and why they made that choice, we need a bit of backstory. So, without further delay, let’s dive in!
In the heart of Wisconsin sits the largest freshwater marsh in the United States—the Horicon Marsh. The marsh spans more than 33,000 acres and draws visitors from across the globe to witness its wildlife, beauty, and history. At the southern edge of this natural wonder is Horicon High School, where the marsh isn’t just a backdrop—it is part of the school’s identity.
The people of Horicon knew the marsh was more than just an environmental marvel; it was a community treasure. Very few schools are lucky enough to have such a defining natural feature right in their backyard. Choosing a mascot that didn’t reflect that would have been an injustice. That is why they chose something different: The Marshman. For years, the Marshman only existed in drawing— symbolizing the pride students and community members felt for their unique home. But until recently, one thing was missing: a mascot they could see, cheer with, and bring to life.
The Horicon Marsh was formed thousands of years ago by glaciers from the last Ice Age. Its wildlife and natural trading routes have attracted people for centuries. The town of Horicon was established in 1846 near the marsh, and one of its first major developments was a dam to power the first sawmill. Unfortunately, this flooded the marsh with so much water that it became more lake than marsh! About 20 years later, after much debate, the dam was removed—restoring the marsh and welcoming back its wildlife. But that was not the end of its challenges.
Unregulated hunting drained the bird population, leaving the marsh barren. To find new value in the land, the town attempted to drain it and convert it into farmland. This plan backfired – literally. The exposed peat soil dried out and caught fire, leaving the marsh to burn and be abandoned.
It wasn’t until 1927 that hope returned when the Wisconsin State Legislature passed the Horicon Marsh Wildlife Refuge Bill, aiming to restore the wetland. A new, carefully monitored dam was installed to help regulate water levels. Today, both the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service work together to study and protect the Horicon marsh, and this whole kerfuffle remains an important case study for marsh re-establishment and maintenance across the globe.
In 1968, a Horicon student sketched a character unlike any other: The Marshman. In the drawing, the Marshman sported a rugged figure with spiked boots, orange waders, wide shoulders, and a facial expression that can best be described as, “We mean business.” That image became the school’s logo and the direct inspiration for Horicon’s mascot.
Rumor has it, the Marshman was inspired by a football coach at the time. However, we’ll never truly know for sure, as the student artist would never fully confirm their inspiration!
Horicon High School has been using The Marshman as a logo ever since. The logo remained mostly unchanged for 50+ years.
In 1996, Michael LeBouton, referred to as LB by staff and students alike, was hired by the Horicon School District. Serving as Activities Director and later Principal, LB dreamed of taking the Marshman logo to the next level. Not through a redesign or update to the look – no, he was thinking bigger; he wanted to bring The Marshman to life!
The perfect opportunity presented itself in 2024, when the school underwent a district-wide campus renewal. With a newly renovated high school, a brand-new elementary school, and a shiny new athletic complex set to open for the 2024/25 school years, LB saw the timing was perfect.
“I wanted to take advantage of the excitement surrounding Horicon and use it to propel this mascot project—something we’ll be using for generations.” — LB
LB started conducting his research. Eventually, he landed with us here at Olympus Group and spoke with one of our mascot specialists, Mikaela. As fate would have it, Mikaela was a former Horicon student, and LB had actually been her Cross-Country coach!
As a proud “Marshlady,” Mikaela was deeply involved in extracurricular activities growing up, and her father was also her High School Principal! It had been years since Mikaela and LB seen each other, but in an instant, the connection was rekindled. What a crazy coincidence!
Designing a 3D Marshman wasn’t the easiest task. The team had to stay true to the original 2D drawing, which presented challenges, especially the head design.
Human mascots typically feature big smiles or open mouths to help disguise the vision screen for the performer. But we couldn’t take this approach with The Marshman because of his signature smirk— a feature of the logo that was imperative to the Horicon brand. With good back and forth communication between Mikaela and LB, Olympus created a safe, functional head design that maintained the original character’s look without compromising the performer’s vision or safety.
When The Marshman mascot arrived at Horicon, the secret was revealed, and the Marshman was introduced to the town! The response was immediate: Horicon embraced The Marshman as a symbol of their town’s spirit and heritage.
Since his debut, the Marshman has become a familiar face at open houses, football and volleyball games, class reunions, and the school’s celebrated “Walk of Champions.” This tradition honors any team or individual heading to state: the school band leads the way as students fill the halls, cheering for their classmates. Now, with the Marshman joining the procession, the event carries even more energy and school spirit.
The school is currently looking for more student performers to take on the role so the Marshman can make even more appearances. LB, the first to wear the costume, insists it is the students who should truly bring the character to life. More than just a game-day mascot, the Marshman represents Horicon’s deep connection to the marshlands and its history. It’s an emblem of community pride that goes far beyond the playing field!
Be willing to be a little bit of a pain to get what you want. Pay attention to the details, make sure everything is what you want. Creating a custom mascot is an investment, so you want to ensure you like what you have in the end because it’s something you want to use for years.
Don’t underestimate the possible excitement in your community about having a mascot. If you have a unique mascot and it’s something that would gather attention from people, go and ask them for help getting it purchased. People were really happy to provide a little bit of funding here and there. A bunch of little gifts can add up really quickly.
Jump in, make the call, and get started. It takes time and work to create a mascot, but trust the process. LB wishes he had started years earlier!
