'ZOOse' unleashed: Lincoln High School introduces 'fierce' new mascot design

The Lincoln High School mascot underwent a muscular makeover last week. During a virtual unveiling Feb. 4, Lincoln introduced the fifth iteration of its Fighting Zebra mascot since 1987. For the first time, it has a name: "ZOOse." ZOOse is a nod to the king of the Greek gods, Zeus, as well as the Lincoln student section, nicknamed "The Zoo" for the rowdy, animalistic atmosphere it creates at Lincoln sporting events. "The kids were super excited about it," Lincoln High School activities director Mary MacQueen said. "I think it looks fierce. It definitely looks like our Zebra." MacQueen, a second-generation Lincoln graduate on staff for more than 30 years, has seen every version of the Fighting Zebra. Her oldest brother made one of the earliest versions of the mascot's head with papier-mâché. "You come on campus into classrooms, there are tons of Zebra stuff," MacQueen said. "The kids embrace it, parents embrace it, staff embraces it. It's a cool thing to be a part of the Zebra family." The mascot's new design and name have also won over some students. "When I heard the new mascot's name was ZOOse, I thought it was awesome," Lincoln senior JT Willis said. "It was a super unique idea to tie our student section with the school mascot. I can't wait to see ZOOse support the Fighting Zebras for years to come." According to Lincoln High's "School History" webpage, 1928 Lincoln High graduate Ellis "Park" Schuler told the story of how the school adopted the Zebra nickname in a 1995 letter to The Lincoln News Messenger. While competing in a local basketball league including Auburn, Roseville, Grass Valley, Nevada City and Marysville teams in the 1920s, Schuler wrote, Lincoln team members began wearing blue and white vertical stripes on their jerseys. Spectators began calling them the "Zebras." Lincoln High School took on the name in 1927 and has kept it ever since. MacQueen said there was later a slight tweak to the nickname. "There was an old football coach who came in and wanted to change the mascot because he didn't think zebras were fierce enough," MacQueen said. "So 'Fighting Zebras' is what he came up with." According to MaxPreps, a handful of high schools across the country has the Zebra moniker but none is known as the "Fighting Zebras." "It really is special to be a part of a school with such a unique name/mascot and history," Lincoln Assistant Principal Cameron Layton said. "LHS, the Zoo and those lucky enough to be called a 'Zebra' just seems to create far more of a bond than other schools. I'm proud to be a Zebra!"