MSUB’s Buzz to Compete in Mascot Contest (Dec. 17, 2003)
BILLINGS, MT – Buzz, the team mascot
for the Montana State-Billings Yellowjackets, will come out of
winter hibernation to compete in the United Performing
Association’s Mascot Challenge on February 27, 2004 in
Minneapolis, MN. The event is part of a four-day cheer
competition sponsored by the United Performing Association. The
2004 UPA AmeriCup Cheer and Dance Championship will take place
February 26-29 at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
“I am extremely excited about this
competition,” said Buzz through a Yellowjacket Cheer Team
representative. “I think after I put the sting to the rest of the
mascots who are brave enough to show up in Minneapolis, fans in
Billings will really start to get bee-hind me when I’m shakin’ it
up at Yellowjacket basketball games.”
The competition will be the first for Buzz,
who has been a crowd favorite at Yellowjacket basketball games for
years. Buzz will be flying alone for the UPA competition
as the Yellowjacket Cheer Team will not make the trip to the Twin
Cities. The Yellowjacket Cheer Team’s next competition will be in
March at the Cheerleaders of American competition in Irvine, CA.
The reigning champion at the UPA Mascot
Challenge is “Stevie Dog” from University of Wisconsin-Stevens
Point, who has won the event twice since 1997. The open division
mascot competition includes a three-minute routine during which
mascots are judged on four categories. Twenty-five percent of
their total scores are derived from each of the four judging
criteria: animation, props and music, creativity, and audience
appeal.
“I have two goals for myself at this
competition,” added Buzz. “First, I’m looking for
popularity (obviously). Second, I’m going after scholarship prize
money to help out the great worker bees on the Yellowjacket Cheer
Team.”
The Yellowjackets’ website (www.msubillings.edu/athletics)
will run an unofficial fan poll between now and the competition
pitting Buzz against the reigning champ, “Stevie Dog.”
Fans can logon and cast their votes for who they believe should be
this year’s UPA Champion. |
