Every school takes pride in its chosen mascot. It is a grand, unifying symbol that students, alumni, teachers, and staff can rally behind. For Mishawaka High School (MHS), a dream came true on August 18 with the unveiling of a nine-foot caveman statue envisioned by former Mishawaka alumnus Mike “Beef” Faulkner. The statue, which makes its debut just in time for MHS’s 100th anniversary, is a remarkable tribute to his beloved Mishawaka community.
“Mike was always a caveman,” said wife Monique Faulkner. “This community has been his whole life. Our family would go to lots of sporting events and he kept up on everything — the stats, records, the opponents, and how they were doing. He always lived and breathed Mishawaka. He was invested in anything that had to do with the high school or the city.”
Mike Faulkner, a 1987 graduate of MHS, gained a reputation for being a gifted athlete in wrestling and football. His legacy in sports landed him as a four-time All-American college wrestler, and a head wrestling coach and he even received a spot on the MHS Hall of Fame’s elite wrestlers. After graduating from Ferris State University, Mike Faulkner began his career with the Parks and Recreation Department and proudly served as the Park Superintendent through 2011. He next became an assistant athletic director through 2016, before becoming Director of Operations for the School City of Mishawaka through 2022. From schooling until his passing on September 25, 2022 – Mike Faulkner retained a sheer love for MHS athletics.
“With the assistant athletic director job, Mike started going to sporting events he knew nothing about,” said Monique Faulkner. “He ended up at a swim meet where he met sculptor David “Dave” Layman who Mike felt compelled to share his vision for a caveman statue by the football field.”
Layman, who grew up as an artist, moved to Mishawaka later in life with no prior connections to Mike Faulkner. After a friendly conversation geared to get to know one another, the caveman statue would be in conversation between them for years to come.
“I had been announcing swimming for 20 years at the high school when Mike walked in,” said Layman. “Everybody in Mishawaka knew Mike, but I did not. We were sitting down and he admitted to me that he knew zero about swimming. He told me he heard about a sculpture I did, and, in turn, he told me he was a competitive wrestler. He told me I did not look like a sculptor. Three weeks later, I brought in photos of the work I had done to get him to believe me. Then he started talking about his dream of a caveman statue that was 20 feet tall, with arms in the air and a big open mouth. I told him bronze is really expensive, but I told him I could do it.”
Layman ended up creating a fierce spectacle of a caveman, not 20 feet, but a powerful, six-foot figure holding a mighty club at the nine-foot mark. Within the bronze, he worked diligently to show muscle definition and a vigilant complexion to reflect his strength and resilience. The statue now stands at the west side of the building — a permanent symbol of what it means to be a Mishawaka caveman.
“I love that the statue tells a story,” said Layman. “The statue shows what Mike Faulkner represents for Mishawaka High School. It reveals a great story to be told about how the whole community came together to raise money for this through the Beef Bash. Sculptures are not cheap, and for Mike’s family this is all a big deal.”
The reality of making a sculpture came to fruition on September 30, 2023, a little over a year after his passing. The School City of Mishawaka sponsored “Beef Bash” to help raise funds for a life-size caveman statue in honor of his wishes. The community rallied in support of the Faulkner family and helped raise a whopping $55,000 for the bronze statue, and then received a Patronicity Grant from the Mishawaka Parks Department that matched $50,000 to get the total over $100K.
“It was a wonderful event,” said School Board President of the School City of Mishawaka Holly Parks. “When it was over, we had to get to work. We had to get Dave to sketch, do a clay model, go to the foundry, and work toward making it a life-size clay model. It has all been a labor of love. It has been a year-long process with lots of meetings. We are super excited for the Faulkner family and the whole community.”
Park attributes the caveman statue as a two-fold memorial: to both honor Mike Faulkner as an incredible human being and to fulfill his dream. As children and students gather under the silhouette of the statue on game nights or orientation, Mike Faulkner’s memory is to be a permanent reminder of unwavering support.
“Our family knows how great Mike is, and so many other people know how great he is,” said Faulkner. “Just to know this whole community came together to support us through Beef Bash and the Mishawaka Parks Department is amazing. They got a matching grant for this project and worked hard to bring the statue to life. Words cannot even describe how that makes us feel. We are so honored that so many people loved Mike and were willing to do that for us.”
Monique Faulkner, her sons Austin and Alex, and her family extend their love for everybody involved in making Mike Faulkner’s idea come to life.
“I know that Mike’s looking down on it and he is so happy and honored that it has been accomplished,” said Monique Faulkner. “I know his vision has come to life and, since we live just a couple blocks up from the high school, I will walk by it often. It will bring a sense of pride and it will always make me smile. It has made our family so happy and I am so thankful for how great this community is.”