UPDATE: 3/2
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Brock Burwell has strived to become West Virginia University's Mountaineer mascot for the past three years, and he has finally made it.

Burwell, a senior from Harrisville, was named the mascot during the second half of the WVU-Georgetown men's basketball game Monday night.

He has been the alternate Mountaineer mascot since 2008 ,but his Mountaineer roots go way back.

When Burwell was little, his uncle was the Mountaineer mascot.

"The love for this state and WVU is something that I have, and have had, for my entire life. My family has raised me to respect and love this state from my infancy," Burwell wrote in his application essay.

Burwell will replace 2009-10 Mountaineer mascot Rebecca Durst of Point Pleasant.

He will begin his reign as Mountaineer mascot at the April 30 Gold-Blue spring football game at Milan Puskar Stadium.

ORIGINAL STORY
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WSAZ) – It’s down to four.

We're talking about the finalists for next years Mountaineer at West Virginia University .

The finalists are Brock Burwell, a multi-disciplinary studies major from Harrisville; Erik Edwards, a civil engineering major from Morgantown; Adam Harris, a civil engineering major from Morgantown; and Taylor Richmond, a political science major from Beckley.

The four will compete against each other in a cheer-off at Saturday's WVU-Cincinnati men’s basketball game..

During the cheer-off, each person will have a chance to interact with the crowd.

After the game the Mountaineer Mascot Selection Committee will score each student based on their performance.

The winner will be decided based on an accumulation of scores from all three stages of the selection process, which included an interview and series of essays. The student in second place will be offered a position as alternate mascot.

The new Mountaineer will be announced at the WVU-Georgetown men’s basketball game on March 1.