Syracuse, N.Y. (NCC News) — The Westhill School District is renaming its sports teams. The Warriors are now known as the Wolf Pack.
“The Wolf Pack embodies the values of strength, unity, and resilience, which align with the core values that have always been central to the identity of the Westhill community,” Westhill Superintendent Steve Dunham said in a statement on X.
This change comes after discussions about the name’s negative association with Native American culture. The state of New York banned Native American names and imagery from high school branding last year. Even though Westhill’s logos did not depict a Native American figure, the name had enough ties to Native American culture that it was deemed problematic.
This change has been in the works since June 2023 and will go through on July 1, 2025. The school district will use the Warriors imagery until then.