Before the Orange and Black: Wartburg College’s emergence of the Knight mascot

Greetings from our team at Eighth Street Films! We look forward to sharing our second blog post as we continue to work on our production on our documentary for the 90 years of Wartburg Knight’s athletics! We have seen how crucial and powerful the early days of Wartburg athletics have been the breeding ground for the college’s tradition of excellence in today’s sports climate. Here is what we have come across with the early history of the Wartburg College Knights and the formation of their identity!

Before the Wartburg College Knights had dominance in their athletics, before sports like the Wartburg Knights football team and wrestling team became highlighted teams across the NCAA Division III world, the Wartburg Knights defined themselves with richer elements than titles and championships.

Wartburg athletics grew from humble beginnings and much more modest facilities where they practice and compete. Many of Wartburg’s sports that currently have the weight and presence did not have that storied tradition. But Wartburg’s athletics like football, baseball, track and field, wrestling and basketball fought with grit and determination against bigger programs and tougher teams. Even when there were seasons of grief and constant loss, the Wartburg Knights kept coming back the next season and have laid the groundwork for the tradition we have now.

As the Knight’s mantle started to have its hold solidify at Wartburg, it did not just overwrite the past or begin a new creation, but it molded a different creature that is the Knight. Wartburg College’s student-athletes are induced with the values of leadership, service, faith and learning, and the mascot gave a name and face to those values that not only the student-athletes represent on the field or court, but every Wartburg Knight who walks the grounds of the campus.

The symbolism of the Knight mascot grew to reflect who Wartburg is and the culture that is embodied by Wartburg students in their everyday life. Where athletes at Wartburg have forged perseverance and teamwork in and out of uniform.

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