Mascot

The Sisters of Mercy intended that their students would be grounded in faith, rooted in love, and exercised in mind and body.  Athletics has always been a part of campus life. The Misericordia Athletics Association (MAA) had its beginnings on campus in 1932 as the Women's Athletic Association, which organized physical education activities on campus, raised money for state sports conferences, honored athletes and team managers, and encouraged enthusiasm for sports.

The Miss Recordia reported in November 1953 that the Misericordia Athletic Association (MAA) was looking for a new sports team name to inspire school spirit. The MAA held a contest to choose a sports team name. In the December 1953 issue, the Miss Recordia reported that the Highland Terrier was chosen as the mascot, and a mascot named Tippy was named to represent the sports teams. Pups like McGinty (named for Sister Eloise McGinty, who served as the moderator for the MAA for many years) were the first live mascots to represent a college team in the area. 

Misericordia was known as the Highlanders until the student body chose the cougar— another highland animal—in 1986.

The Highlander refers to the highlands of Dallas. The College had gone co-educational for the 1979-1980 academic year, and men’s sports teams began to form by 1982. The student body saw an opportunity to boost school spirit and to rebrand the institution with a more fierce and competitive mascot.

A marketing campaign preceded the unveiling of the Cougar at the double-header basketball game against Keuka College in January 1986. 

The Cougar did not have a name until 2012 when a campus-wide contest was once again held and he became known as Archibald McGrowl—a clever nod to the school’s now-iconic Arch. He is affectionately known as Archie.