WuShock: Fighting-Mad Wheat

Wichita, Kansas

WuShock, a pugnacious fists-a-flying bundle of wheat, is a sports mascot defying how one expects a heartland crop to behave.

WuShock was invented and named in 1948, combining the "Wu" of Wichita State University and the "Shock" of shocking (i.e. harvesting) wheat, which was something that many WSU students did during the summer months (WSU students call themselves Shockers). Although he's evolved in appearance over the years, WuShock has always been memorable and strange.

Apparently satisfied that WuShock had reached a perfect form, WSU commissioned an eight-foot-high bronze statue of the mascot, sculpted by Connie Ernatt and unveiled on September 15, 2020. It depicts WuShock as an angry, ambulatory bundle of wheat, wearing a WSU letter sweater and a wheat stalk skirt. He has big bare feet, a piece of wheat clenched in his teeth, bulging muscles, and fists ready to throw a punch -- possibly at The Fighting Okra or some other collegiate agricultural rival.