Braden Adkins is done being a backup.
The West Virginia University junior from Richwood served as the 2023-24 alternate Mountaineer mascot.
On Saturday, Adkins was announced as the 2024-25 Mountaineer during the WVU-Texas Tech men’s basketball game at the Coliseum.
“The experience I have gained as the alternate mascot has made me fully realize this is my passion,” Adkins previously said in a press release. “I’ve loved every minute of my current role, but being named the next Mountaineer will allow me to fully utilize my ability to give back to the people of West Virginia as the spokesperson for both the university and my state.”
Four West Virginia natives were finalists for the mascot position.
They were chosen by a committee of faculty, staff and students based on an essay and interview, and then judged on his performances and interactions with the crowd at a previous WVU men’s basketball game.
Adkins is the 70th West Virginia University Mountaineer mascot.
He is majoring in economics and has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while also serving as a student worker in the Division of Student Life and a member of the Mountaineer Maniacs and WVU Pickleball Club.
