Recognized by generations of students, the Benet Redwing symbolizes tradition, identity, and school spirit. This red-and-white bird has served as Benet’s mascot for more than a century, and students today continue to celebrate the bird on the court and on the field.
In 1887, St. Procopius Abbey for Eastern European orphans was relocated from Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood to modern-day Lisle, Illinois. St. Procopius Academy opened its doors to male students in 1901 and remained all-boys until 1967, when it merged with the all-girls Sacred Heart Academy to create Benet Academy.
The redwing’s signature colors of red and white have been present since the days of St. Procopius Academy. According to graduate Tom Lamonica, the original lyrics were as follows:
“Go, Proco, Go.
Get you going all you loyal boys
from Proco.
Go Red & White
Every day and every night
We’re gonna fight …
Fight … fight … fight.
Our team will shine…
On the court or on the field
We’re all together.
We pledge our loyalty
On the road to victory
For Proco
Go … go … go.”
Benet Academy retained most of this founding song, as the modern-day fight song contains similar lyrics and composition. Lamonica reminisced about learning the “new” Benet fight song, saying, “On the first day of class in 1967, we were taught the new fight song, with new ‘Benet’ words and co-educational lyrics.” As far back as 1960, seven years before Benet Academy was founded, the redwing appears as the mascot for the “St. Procopius Redwing Varsity basketball team, coached by Mr. Tom Sullivan,” which brought home the co-championship in the newly-formed Suburban Catholic Conference.
Ever-present at sports venues and pep rallies, the Redwing continues to express the timeless values of Benet Academy. The redwing has maintained its roots since its St. Procopius Academy history and continues to sport black, red, and white, with the added yellow jersey underneath. During the 20th century, many of Benet’s athletic teams wore yellow as its primary jersey color. The current Benet logo holds on to both its original colors and a new design, tying together the past and present of Benet Academy. In folklore and literary tradition, the Redwing symbolizes energy, adaptability, and resilience, which aptly describes all those who walk Benet’s halls. The Redwing will remain a symbol of school pride and spirit for generations to come.
