Vote now for best high school mascot in America, Elite 8: Cary Imps vs. Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts
The Elite Eight is upon us in SBLive Sports' NCAA Tournament-style contest to determine the best high school mascot in America.
Vote below for the No. 11-seeded Cary Imps (North Carolina) or the No. 13-seeded Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts (Wisconsin) to advance to the Final Four. The Imps beat the Hoopeston Cornjerkers (Illinois) and the Galloping Ghosts topped the Ridgefield Spudders (Washington) in the Sweet 16.
The Imps earned an 11 seed with 42 votes in our fall contests, while the Galloping Ghosts earned a 13 seed with 30 votes.
Follow along: National Mascot Tournament 2023 Bracket
Voting for this matchup will conclude Wednesday, May 31, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
Editor's note: In the event of a tie, the team with the better seed will prevail based on the results of our fall mascot contest.
11. Cary Imps (North Carolina)
These Imps have an interesting back story. Albert H. Werner, a football and baseball coach at the school in the 1930s, came up with the name as a nod to his alma mater, Duke. The JV teams at the time were called the Blue Imps rather than the Blue Devils, and a less colorful version has stuck at Cary.
13. Kaukauna Galloping Ghosts (Wisconsin)
In 1924, Kaukauna coach Bill Smith was so impressed with Red Grange, he called his small but quick group of running backs “galloping ghosts,” which stuck as a name for the school’s other teams.
