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Wl.irlyBy MIKE ALEXANDERAnderson Daily BulletinOh, what Whirly the Whirlwind has done for school spirit at Indiana Christian Academy!The whirling 7-foot, conical red mascot with computerized lighting has doubled at-tendance at home I games and gotten fans excited about | their winning bas-i ketball team. |During the pastjj weekend, Indiana Christian Academy, with Whirly’s help, won the eight-team Indiana Association of Christian Schools state tournament for the third time in eight years. The local school was host for the two-day event in its gym, appropriately called the Wind Tunnel.Prior to the tourney, the Whirlwinds finished the regular season 11-8.“Whirly is great for the team. said 12th-year coach Michael R. Graham.The school is at 52 W. Hartman Road, adjacent to Grace Baptist Church.At regular home games this past season, Whirly would make his grand entrance just before both teams came on the floor to warm up.“We want Whirly! We want Whirlv!” the crowd would chant.wThen the gym turns pitch black and a rush of wind whooshes over the intercom.“Welcome to the Wind Tunnel ... home of ... Whir-r-rl*l-e-e-e-e! shouts the announcer.Suddenly cheers rock the 1.000-ANDERSON DAILY BULLETIN lt;i -7 Monday, March 2, 1987 I /spins up’ school spiritseat gym as a spinning, rolling and'dipping swirl of red lights surges across the floor.Junior Alan Hurt, as Whirly, wears a four-channel programmable controller pack on his back underneath the costume. The whirlwind look is fabricated with screen wire, plastic molding, foam rubber padding that is covered with 20 yards of red polyester taffeta and blue and white sequintrim.According to mascot creator, Dan Utley, who works in Delco Remy’s engineering department, the computer memory chip is the brain of the controller which regulates 200 red lights in creating the whirlwind motion. The lights can be programmed to flash with cheers or clapping.Hurt said his mam concern is to avoid getting dizzy and falling down during his whirlwind entrance.Despite getting hot, and tired arms dangling outside the rotund shape, he loves his job He claps and jumps up and down in his red stocking feet when the home team is announced.He delights the home crowd by yawning or tweedling his thumbs with a bored look when opposing team members are announced.Much of Indiana Christian Academy's revived spirit can be attributed to first-vear administrator William A.wNewton. He suggested the idea for a mascot and the formation of the 14-year-old school’s first Booster Club.“We had nothing visible for a mascot,” Newton said. “So, it took a lot of thought and imagination.Booster Club president Jim Campbell said the dub followed up on Newton's idea in September, putting $400 and 55 hours of labor into the project-/Sfr*****mmmmprVvA*a''HERMOM*!iWWC $$$MB*'**• *» ^wm*mm.NVIM$91Sam' mJ M Mr£5 £-»fejghft#s* mimV *,4^; \ Mk V« v«kKv______\ , wv'* • «N * vVW ’ v-\\ItlWP* ^ J■** **' *■*I *fp? « m mKm wm# m mm « ^ ^«• **■ warn • »k^-k- ~ WN021* m SS »- w *«SS*»£TStS***** ^aSntn ^Mulletm photo b\ JsfflfS V CMJTOUWHIRLY TIIE WHIRLWIND' BOOSTS INDIANA CHRISTIANACADEMY^ SPIRITS... junior Alan Hurt is inside computerized, lighted mascot“The trick was how to create a visible whirlwind, Campbell said “But we did it, and our school spirit’s never been better.
Newspaper Details
Anderson Daily Bulletin
Anderson, Indiana, US
Mon, Mar 02, 1987
Page 17
Full Page
Clipped by
Kokomo-Howard C.
IN, USA 08 Jul 2018
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