Best high school mascot in New Jersey: Top 10 candidates

From Ridgers to Highwaymen to Chimeras, meet the best high school mascots in New Jersey

What do Chimeras have to do with Willingboro, New Jersey? A lot.

And what does a Fighting Clan (formerly Poultry Clan) have to do with Vineland, New Jersey? Rowdy Rooster might tell you, "Even more than that."

SBLive Sports' love for unique mascots with interesting back stories has been well documented.

We've crowned Hodags and Imps the past couple of years in national high school mascot contests, and now we're taking a spin through every state.

Over the next couple of months we'll go from Alabama through Wyoming featuring each state's best high school mascots, and then give readers a chance to vote for their favorite. Our New Jersey poll will post Nov. 4 on highschool.si.com and stay open through Nov. 11.

Here are the top 10 high school mascots in New Jersey:

Belvidere County Seaters

Who’s proud of being the county seat? Belvidere High School, that’s who. Belvidere became the Warren County seat when it broke away from Sussex in 1824.

Fair Lawn Cutters

While the choice of mascot might seem like a play on landscaping, it originated when the Fair Lawn newspaper referenced players receiving suspensions for "cutting" class during the team's first season in 1943.

Fort Lee Bridgemen

Fort Lee High School is right next to the Hudson River in the shadow of George Washington Bridge across from the Bronx, New York. Hence, the Bridgemen.

Glen Ridge Ridgers

These are the only Ridgers in the country among U.S. high schools, and for some reason the school’s mascot is a zebra — sometimes with two heads. Why? Maybe Tom Cruise knows. He wrestled and played football for the Ridgers before graduating in 1980. 

Lakewood Piners

Where did the name Piners come from? Here’s what former Lakewood athletic director John Craddox told the Daily Record in 2014: "It's got to do with the fact that we almost butt up to Rockefeller (Ocean County) park. We have the biggest pine trees you've ever seen. Our mascot is a lumberjack."

Point Pleasant Beach Garnet Gulls

Gulls are common in these parts, but the only confirmed Garnet Gull sightings are confined to the high school.

St. Benedict’s Gray Bees

A bunch of Bees of varying colors infest the high school mascot ranks, but St. Benedict’s has the only Gray Bees in the country. The origin goes way back to the early 20th century, when teams wore jerseys with a gray “B” on the jersey, and Gray Bees stuck as the school mascot.

Teaneck Highwaymen

Not only does the school overlook Route 4 (a highway), but Teaneck’s mascot and logo are derived from the highwaymen who stole money and belongings from those traveling along highways during the 17th and 18th century. On an unrelated note, Teaneck Highwaymen would be a great name for a traveling blues band. Teaneck’s girls teams are called the Highwaywomen. 

Vineland Fighting Clan

Formerly called the Poultry Clan, the Fighting Clan mascot is rooted in Vineland’s history of chicken farming. Rowdy Rooster stalks the sidelines at Vineland sporting events.

Willingboro Chimeras

Willingboro opened in 1975 because of overcrowding at John F. Kennedy High School. Kennedy was the Gryphons (which have the head of an eagle and the body of a lion), so Willingboro went with the Chimeras, which have the head of a lion, body of a goat and the tail of a serpent. The two schools merged in 1989-90, and the Chimeras wisely held up as the team mascot.

Isiah Pacheco, Vineland's favorite son and Super Bowl champion, shows off his dance moves with his father Julio Pacheco, left, and Vineland High School mascot Rowdy Rooster :: Photo by Tom McGurk/USA Today Network

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-- Mike Swanson | swanson@scorebooklive.com | @sblivesports