Iowa State University Alumni Association| online edition | spring 2006
Katsuro Moriya

 


SPRING 2006
Home

Cover Story:
>>The 20 Most Ingriguing People on Campus

Alumni Profile:
An Iraqi hero

Alumni Profile:
Putting the fun in functional

Alumni Profile:
Three wishes for Stephanie Kobes

Alumni Profile:
Roy Reiman: I could write a book

Departments:
Getting Started
Letters
Around Campus
Class Notes
Association News
Giving
Sports



Cy spoken here

Katsuro Arturo Moriya speaks fluent Japanese, English, and Spanish. But he speaks one more language that everyone can understand: the non-verbal language of Cy.

When Moriya transforms himself into ISU’s beloved mascot, he needs no words at all. He bounces, he struts, he poses, he flings himself into the crowd, he takes on opposing teams’ mascots, he does pushups. He sweats. A lot.

As a member of the mascot squad since 2004, the senior industrial technology major has performed at football and basketball games and other events, wearing that lovable, furry, extremely warm Cy suit.
He’s been beaten, rammed into posts, tackled, knocked down stairs, and blindsided. He has dislocated his shoulder, passed out, and thrown up. And the weird thing is, he thinks it’s great fun.

“It’s a very fun experience,” he says. “I am very happy about it.”

Moriya, whose father was Japanese and mother Venezuelan, grew up in Venezuela, Japan, and Equador. Until he came to Iowa State to study engineering, he didn’t know much about football and even less about the mascots that energize the fans. He tried out a couple of times before he landed the coveted spot on the Cy Squad.

Moriya says, “I feel honored to be part of the Cy Squad.”

-- C. Gieseke

Read on | (N)ice guys