Although timberwolves aren’t native to California, one glance at Northwood’s campus provides a convincing argument otherwise. From the banners hanging on every lamp post to the behemoth of a statue in the admin office, T-wolves have been a profound part of the school’s culture before Northwood’s opening on Sept. 9, 1999.
The timberwolf and school colors were selected in October 1998 by a panel of parents, staff and incoming freshmen and sophomores. According to the Los Angeles Times, students in Northwood’s attendance boundary initially suggested 90 color combinations and 88 mascots. The runner-up mascots were wildcats and grizzlies while the combinations were black, gold and white and red, silver and black.
“One thing the kids said they wanted in a mascot was they preferred an animal as opposed to a personage,” Northwood’s first principal Tony Ferruzzo said to the Los Angeles Times. “They wanted the animal to be vicious, but noble.”
Computer graphics teacher Pat Quigley was tasked with hand-drawing designs for the ballots based on the suggestions. This included the school’s first logo, the “Howling Wolf,” which featured prominently in early school branding and merchandise and was incorporated into Quigley’s later design of the gym’s interior.
“It’s the scowling, and that’s usually all the way across the board going in most mascots. I wanted to give a little bit more of a pride feeling,” Quigley said. “That’s one of the reasons the principal at the time really liked it, because it was more majestic or kind of prideful howling.”
The names of Northwood’s sports teams and many school organizations, such as Timberwolf Instrumental Music Boosters and The Northwood Howler, also soon made reference to the new mascot, helping foster school spirit throughout the school’s formative years.
“We all felt we were part of history making,” Stephanie O’Keefe (Class of 2002) said. “We had the opportunity to make decisions that would establish traditions and really form Northwood. We were shaping what the school looks like now, for you guys. That’s pretty special.”
ASB soon introduced the character of Timby at basketball and football games. His costume’s original 2003 design with scraggly, gray fur was replaced by his current white and gray design around 2009 by former activities director and current principal Leslie Roach after being impressed by an opposing school’s costume at a basketball game.
According to Roach, Timby has since appeared more under activities director Jennifer Petrosian in schoolwide events and NTV segments that emphasize the school’s core values.
“It’s nice to have something that’s positive and a good representation, but also isn’t so serious,” Roach said. “Timby can be a model of what we want Northwood kids to be.”
The timberwolf is particularly meaningful for student athletes, who proudly display the mascot on their white, silver and navy blue uniforms.
“If we miss our shots, that’s OK because we get back up and our teammates encourage us,” JV basketball sophomore Lia Nariman said. “Timby is always encouraging students to cheer for their teammates.”
Though the timberwolf may sometimes fade into the background of day-to-day school life, it has, for decades, continued to leave an indelible imprint as a symbol capable of unifying all Northwood students.
