The Yuma High Criminals ran away with the first round of the USA Today Best High School Mascot contest.

A regional competition against other state winners is next for the Criminals. To continue helping the Criminals advance in the contest vote here. 

The Yuma Sun first reported on the first round mascot victory for Yuma High. The Yuma High Criminals have a long and rich athletic history in Arizona.

The school’s nickname surfaced after a fire at the school forced Yuma High administrators to use the Yuma Territorial Prison as a temporary home in 1910.