What's a Wyvern? Kingswood Oxford's Successful Entry in USA Today's Mascot Contest

The bright red dragon-like creature in a Kingswood Oxford t-shirt gave the "number one" signal, as an auditorium full of cheering fans, an athletic director in a "Super-Wyvern" cape, and a group of very excited teachers and administrators held a pep rally Wednesday morning to spur the Wyvern onto victory in the next level of USA Today's "Most Unique High School Mascot" contest.

Kingswood Oxford Headmaster Dennis Bisgaard, on crutches from a leg injury sustained playing basketball last weeked, said the very last thing he did before heading to the emergency room Sunday was send out an email that read: "Get the Wyvern mobilized!"

Bisgaard had learned that after holding a sizeable lead in the Connecticut mascot competition, Avon Old Farms' Winged Beaver had surged ahead. "In 24 hours you voted 30,000 times!" he told the crowd. The Wyvern received 54,577 votes in seven days of online voting, while Avon Old Farms was the next closest competitor with 32,458 votes.

"This is beyond Kingswood Oxford, beyond West Hartford, this is about Connecticut. This will be our first state championship in 2013," he exclaimed.

Tuesday was West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka's birthday. "We should give him a national championship for a birthday present!" Bisgaard said.

Language teacher Rob Garcia revved up the crowd some more by showing some specially-selected clips from the 2009 horror film "Wyvern." "If we don't win, we let the Wyvern down," Garcia said, showing clips of the science ficton movie's rendition of the intimidating, man-eating, ferocious beast. "We don't want to let the Wyvern down!" he said.

"It's a great mascot," said Athletic Director Susan Cabot, who was very excited when USA Today first contacted her about having the Wyvern included in its "Most Unique High School Mascot" contest.

"We've defeated Avon Old Farms. There are 51 other mascots, and it's time to put on the heat and vote ... even when you're on break!" Cabot told the crowd, flashing her "Super Wyvern" cape. Kingswood begins a two-week break on Friday.

The Most Unique High School Mascot contest began on Feb. 25 with 255 schools – five per state and Washington D.C. - in the state round, which ended at 3 p.m. ET March 5, according to the website.

The 51 winners now proceed to the second round, where they are divided among six regions.

According to the contest website: "The regional round will begin at 11 a.m. ET March 6 and ends at 3 p.m. ET March 14. The six winners then will compete in the national round, beginning at 11 a.m. ET March 15 and ending at 3 p.m. ET March 25."

"There is no limit to the number of times a person can vote as long as the Best Mascot Rules are followed," according to the USA Today website, and anyone age 13 or over can vote.

Click here to vote for the Wyvern!

So exactly what is a Wyvern?

According to Kingswood Oxford Athletic Director Susan Cabot: "The Wyvern is a poison breathing legendary creature with the head of a dragon, a body with wings, talons of an eagle and has only two legs with a tail of a snake. The origin is from the Old French wyvere which means both viper and ‘life.’ The Wyvern are frequent in heraldry and are considered a sign of strength to those who bear the symbol. In 1740 John Wesley, founded the Kingswood School in Bath, England and chose the Wyvern as the schools symbol of leadership, strength and nobility. In the early 1900, young school master George Nicholson of the Kingswood in Bath was asked to start a school in Hartford, CT. Nicholson brought with him the name, the crest, colors and the Wyvern. The Wyvern has been celebrated in our school since 1916."

"Kingswood Oxford is proud our mascot and strong tradition - you will find the Wyvern in prominent areas around the campus from the gate posts as you enter the school at both entrances to the weathervane atop Seaverns Hall, on the wrought iron sign outside of Nicholson Administrative and Admissions building and in the school seal embedded in the floor of the Estes Middle School."