There are over 1,000 high schools throughout Minnesota. A lot of them have typical mascots for their sports teams, however, there are about 33 that you won't believe are real.

According to the website, highschools.com, there are a little over 1,200 high schools throughout the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It even went on to say that Minnesota ranks as 22nd in terms of student enrollment, and about 17th in total number of schools.

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High schools have a lot of pride in their mascots; typically, it's some kind of fierce animal or something to give the team a look of toughness. Growing up in the area, I was a 'Hunter'. Of course, others in the area were 'Greyhounds', 'Trojans', 'Spartans', 'Lumberjacks', and others I won't name yet because they make my list of unusual ones.

Going through all the mascots throughout the state definitely shocked me. The most common mascots were: Eagles, Tigers, and Panthers. However, there were 33 that stood out to me. Shoutout to the Litchfield Dragons and the Brooklyn Center Centaurs for having some cool mascots that stood out in my eyes. Check out the ones that made me say "really?" down below:

35 Unusual Minnesota High School Mascots You Won't Believe Are Real

Blooming Prairie High School
Blooming Prairie High School
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Blooming Prairie Awesome Blossoms

I cannot get over this one. Blooming Prairie High School has actually competed against 254 other high schools in the United States for the title of America's "Most Unique Mascot".

Aitkin High School
Aitkin High School
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Aitkin Gobblers

Aitkin High School may have a turkey as their mascot, but they go by the Gobblers.

Moorhead High School
Moorhead High School
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Moorhead Spuds

I once saw a sign with an orange potato holding a hockey stick at a game; it has haunted me ever since. Moorhead High School went with a potato for their unique mascot.

Edgerton High School
Edgerton High School
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Edgerton Flying Dutchmen

This one puzzles me. Edgerton High School goes by the Flying Dutchmen and their logo is a shoe with wings.

East Grand Forks High School
East Grand Forks High School
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East Grand Forks Green Wave

One of my best friends attended school here and she never understood why East Grand Forks High School is home to the Green Wave.

Fergus Falls High School
Fergus Falls High School
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Fergus Falls Otters

Committed to excellence, you'll find that Fergus Falls High School is home to the Otters. They may look cute, but watch out as Otters can bite.

Marshall County Central High School
Marshall County Central High School
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Marshall County Central Northern Freeze

When you live in a cold climate, some names come easily. Marshall County Central High School is home to the Northern Freeze.

Red Wing High School
Red Wing High School
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Red Wing Wingers

At Red Wing High School, you can find the Wingers. Where the logo is an eagle and it's not even red.

Johnson Senior High School
Johnson Senior High School
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St. Paul Johnson Governors

At Johnson Senior High School in Saint Paul, they decided to go as the Governors.

Maple Grove Senior High School
Maple Grove Senior High School
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Maple Grove Crimson

While the weather can be frightful in Minnesota, watch out for that Crimson Leaf at Maple Grove Senior High School.

Chisholm High School
Chisholm High School
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Chisolm Bluestreaks

Nothing strikes fear in the heart of their competitors quite like a blue lightning strike. Chisolm High School went with being called the Bluestreaks.

Washburn High School
Washburn High School
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Minneapolis-Washburn Millers

Known for pioneering the Minneapolis flour milling industry, Washburn High School goes by the Millers.

Mahtomedi High School
Mahtomedi High School
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Mahtomedi Zephers

Curious to know what a Zepher is? Well, it's someone that went to Mahtomedi High School. It can also be defined as a gentle breeze from the west, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

Thomas Edison High School
Thomas Edison High School
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Minneapolis-Edison Tommies

Over at Thomas Edison High School, you can find the Tommies. I'm guessing they got it from Thomas, but their mascot is a big cat.

Sauk Centre High School
Sauk Centre High School
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Sauk Centre Mainstreeters

With the logo just being the city's initials, Sauk Centre High School went with being called the Mainstreeters.

Nick Cooper - TSM Duluth
Nick Cooper - TSM Duluth
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Two Harbors Agates

With the letter "T" and "H" together with the school name in the middle, Two Harbors High School are the Agates.

Stillwater Area High School
Stillwater Area High School
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Stillwater Ponies

I've always wondered why Stillwater High School went with the Ponies, and not something like the Mustangs, Stallions, or something along those lines.

Winona Senior High School
Winona Senior High School
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Winona WinHawks

What exactly is a "WinHawk?". I'm not sure we'll ever know, but that's what Winona Senior High School goes by.

Grand Meadow High School
Grand Meadow High School
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Grand Meadow Superlarks

Why be any other kind of bird, when you can be a Superlark at Grand Meadow High School.

Proctor Public Schools
Proctor Public Schools
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Proctor Rails

Now, I understand this one given the history of the city of Proctor. However, growing up, I was always intrigued why we were facing a team who went by the "Rails".

Cotter Schools
Cotter Schools
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Cotter Ramblers

Their mascot is a ram, so I wonder why they didn't go with the Cotter Rams. Instead, they went with a rambler where the definition is a person whose hobby is going on long walks often as part of an organized group. It can also be defined as a person or thing that rambles, a type of house, and even a weak-stemmed plant.

Lanesboro High School
Lanesboro High School
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Lanesboro Burros

Nothing says "go kick some butt" like having a donkey as a mascot. Definitely, one I was not expecting to see, but it exists.

Minnetonka High School
Minnetonka High School
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Minnetonka Skippers

Welcome to Minnetonka where the logo is the letter "M" and sometimes an anchor, but your team name and mascot is a skipper.

Mankato West High School
Mankato West High School
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Mankato West Scarlets

If you're wondering just what a scarlet is, it can be defined as various colors of red and something glaringly offensive. Not quite sure why Mankato West High School went with this one, but they did.

Anoka High School
Anoka High School
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Anoka Tornadoes

This went with the historic factor. A deadly tornado struck the town in 1939 and left a lasting impression. So Anoka High School, which happens to be one of the oldest high schools in the state, took on the name.

Roosevelt High School
Roosevelt High School
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Minneapolis-Roosevelt Teddies

In Minneapolis, you'll find Roosevelt High School. Home of the Teddies, but their mascot is a big bear with a sweater. Maybe the school made former President Teddy Roosevelt proud back in the day.

Holdingford High School
Holdingford High School
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Holdingford Huskers

Nothing says menacingly like a stalk of corn ready to battle. Good ole Holdingford High School is located in the heart of central Minnesota.

Jordan High School
Jordan High School
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Jordan Hubmen

So this is an interesting one. Jordan High School has three different mascots. The boys are called the Hubmen, the girl's athletics are the Jaguars, and when combined with the nearby Belle Plain Tigers for wresting and skiing, they are the Panthers. I'm still not sure what a Hubman is though.

Thief River Falls High School
Thief River Falls High School
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Thief River Falls Prowlers

I can see where they are going with this one, but I don't know if I would want to be called a prowler. But according to Thief River Falls High School, the Prowler pride runs deep.

Hopkins High School
Hopkins High School
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Hopkins Royals

Hopkins High School could have been anything. They went with being the Royals, where a Lion is wearing a crown as their mascot.

Marshall School
Marshall School
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Marshall Hilltoppers

You can find this Marshall High School right in Duluth. There are actually over 20 High Schools and a few colleges throughout the US that is the Hilltoppers. I have always found it strange to play a team called the Hilltoppers. Some people even consider the phrase to mean a rich person who lives on top of a hill.

Grand Rapids High School
Grand Rapids High School
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Grand Rapids Thunderhawks

There are actually two high schools in Minnesota that go by this weather bird. Another one of my best friends went here. Grand Rapids Highschool  was one of the Minnesota schools to choose the name. According to folklore, a Thunderhawk is a mythical bird symbol.

Montevideo High School
Montevideo High School
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Montevideo Thunder Hawks

Montevideo High School was the other school that went with this weather bird. However, this school decided to put a space between thunder and hawks.

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Let's not forget years ago when we did a local high school mascot challenge. Feast your eyes on the old 'Mascot Center':

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