The annual winter sports pep rally on Monday, Nov. 19 contained quite the variety of events. A few of them included an obstacle course that involved athletic director Mr. Maliborski in a cage (from which he managed to escape), a gender reveal for athletic trainer Kayla Taske’s baby (in which pink balloons were involved), and a song performed by Saint Ursula alumnae Myrtle Bailey and Kathy Backherms (which received a standing ovation).

However, the main focus: the bulldog! Six graduates of Saint Ursula Academy’s Class of 1973 (Kathy Backherms, Mary Ann Kuechly Middendorf, Connie Frick, Diane Kuechly Sullivan, Myrtle Bailey, Karen Bockenstette Gay and Ann Bradley Thoman) came back to campus to share the story of how the bulldog became our mascot, the first mascot in the GGCL in fact. They attended SUA before any mascot was created. The group that came up with the idea over lunch said that they wanted “something that was tough… not cutesy, one that had a bite, one that could stand alone, and one that roared”.

The bulldog was born from an answer to a lunchroom conversation and it immediately unified the student athletes of 1972, especially the newly formed swimming team who banded together to win their first ever meet during a two and a half day competition of volleyball, basketball, and swimming.

The alumnae presenting today impressed upon the current bulldogs their love for their school and its traditions as well as their passionate belief that the graduates of SUA will become the women of change, the leaders of tomorrow.

From left to right: Abby Lovdal (Bulldog), Kathy Backherms, Mary Ann Kuechly Middendorf, Connie Frick, Diane Kuechly Sullivan, Myrtle Bailey, Karen Bockenstette Gay and Ann Bradley Thoman, Slyvie O'Connor (Bulldog).