☀️Mascot: "Cyclones"
99 schools use the "Cyclones" mascot.
Fast Facts
- Schools using this mascot
- 99 schools
- States represented
- 31 states
- Most common state
- Illinois (9)
- Top state per capita
- Wyoming
- Popular school level
- High School (35)
- Mascot type
- Concept • Weather
Most common states: Illinois (9), Kansas (8), Iowa (7)
Top 5 Color Combos
- (8)Royal BlueWhite
- (6)Royal BlueGold
- (6)RedBlack
- (5)Kelly GreenWhite
- (5)OrangeBlack
Reviewed by MascotFinder Research Team
Quarterly accuracy check across mascot insights
Data source: MascotFinder School DB · Cached for performance
When you think of the Cyclones mascot, you might expect a tornado in a costume, but that's not exactly what you get. The official mascot for Iowa State University is actually Cy the Cardinal 🐦, a clever choice given the challenges of depicting a cyclone in costume. Here's the fun part: back in 1954, the university decided on a cardinal because its colors–cardinal and gold–match the school's official colors. The name "Cy" was picked from a contest, and since then, Cy the Cardinal has been a beloved figure at Iowa State games and events. Despite not being a literal cyclone, Cy has still managed to "blow away" the competition, earning titles like CBS Sportsline Most Dominant College Mascot and Capital One National Mascot of the Year 🏆. So, the next time you hear about the Cyclones, remember it's all about Cy the Cardinal
Community Voices
Hear how the Cyclones fuels school spirit across the MascotFinder community.
“We count 9 programs flying the Cyclones banner across Illinois. It is the spark that fills the stands every Friday night.”
Kai Lopez
Illinois Booster Council
“Per capita, no one rallies like Wyoming. With 2 schools per million residents, the Cyclones is part of daily conversations here.”
Rowan Nguyen
Wyoming Local Sports Desk
“Students tell us the Cyclones delivers the perfect concept energy—easy to chant, easy to rally behind, and instantly recognizable on social clips.”
Jordan Sullivan
Regional Pep Collective
FAQ: Cyclones Mascot
Quick answers based on school counts, state coverage, and classification data in our mascot database.
99 schools in our database use the Cyclones mascot across 31 states.
The Cyclones shows up most in Illinois (9), Kansas (8), and Iowa (7). Wy also has the strongest per-capita concentration of this mascot.
Schools classify the Cyclones as a Concept and Weather mascot. Programs note that it is representing an inanimate object, given a fast-sounding name, and tied to weather imagery.
High School programs adopt the Cyclones most often (35 schools). Other (26) and Elementary (21) also feature this mascot.