NEW FOOTBALL TEAM WILL PLAY AS PHOENIX

When football players from Freeman, Marion and Freeman Academy take the field this fall, they will do so as the Phoenix. That mascot — an immortal bird used in Greek mythology — was chosen by students from all three schools in a vote last week and picked from six options.

Phoenix won overwhelmingly, drawing 122 votes; Mavericks was second with 73 votes and Trailblazers was third with 55. Students in grades 6-12 voted individually while elementary students voted by classroom.

The mascot was revealed as school boards met in regular session Monday night, April 11.

Also Monday night, the Freeman Public School Board approved a contract for Dustin Tschetter as the new head football coach and Austin Unruh as assistant.