Spirit Leaders: High School Mascots
by Shawna Windom
Perhaps it all began with the beliefs of ancient civilizations. Egyptians, Native Americans and even cavemen all thought that worshipping a powerful figure would give them protection and strength to overcome their enemies. Marking their territories with these symbols on drawings, carvings and/or totem poles, the groups believed they would forever be shielded through the arm of their Great Protector, which embodied a person, animal or thing.
These figures were thought to bring good luck to those it protected, and were most heavily called upon during times of sickness, famine, harvest, hunting and war. For worship, it was not uncommon to have an honored member dress in ritualistic costume to pay tribute to the Great Spirit of protection while pleading for its aid.
Today, those ancient customs thrive on high school and college campuses and in other sports arenas worldwide. Mascots, as the spirit figures are more commonly known, have been a part of high school and college campuses since the late 1800s. Some schools, having been first represented by live animals, decided that the cost and responsibility of caring for the animals was excessive and switched to costumed representatives to serve as their spirit leader.
Many northshore high schools have traditional spirit figures. Lions, Skippers and Tornadoes are just a few of the many proud symbols that inspire and sustain these local schools in their endeavors. These mascots inspire the schools’ teams as they strive for excellence and heighten the passion and exhilaration of the fans.
What inspired local high schools to choose their mascot’s identity? How is a student selected to represent this “Great Spirit?” And who are the faces behind the costumes?
Mandeville High’s
“Skip the Skipper”
While each school’s mascot history is different, no one would deny the pride that comes from the time-honored tradition of having a mascot. For Mandeville High School’s Chelsey Richter, putting on the costume and being Skip the Skipper was never one of her goals. She was involved with the band, playing the xylophone, but was also seeking an outlet to express her own individuality in her sophomore year. Knowing her longing to stand out, Chelsey’s friends encouraged her to try out for the role of Skip. “I knew it was meant to be,” Chelsey says. “I had finally found that something that I was meant to do. Having school spirit isn’t a choice; it is a gift that one should take advantage of to the highest level.”
Chelsey has been the mascot at MHS for the past two years. She hopes she will be able to continue her calling as a mascot at the professional level. Her dream is to one day be the mascot for the New Orleans Hornets. “Skip became a part of not only my life but my personality, too,” she says. “Students on campus began referring to Skip as an actual person. I feel as though I brought his character to life somehow by dressing him up in a tux for homecoming or by barbecuing “Cougars” when we played St. Thomas More in the second round of the football play-offs.” Chelsey says it was hard for her to keep her identity a secret at the games. A huge sports enthusiast, her absence in the stands was obvious to her peers.
Although Chelsey takes great pride in her dedication to her school, she has only one complaint about her role as a mascot. “For the record, it does get very hot in that suit,” she says.
Chelsey has been honored as Most Spirited by her peers, Most Spirited Senior 2008 by her principal and has received honors through the Universal Cheer Association and the 2008 UCA summer cheer/mascot camp. She has even been offered a position to mascot at the college level.
Mandeville High School juggled several other spirit names—Red Devils, Waves and Tarpons—before finally settling on Skippers. Skipper was chosen because it is a symbol of courage and determination, a guiding force against all odds and is known for being strong and practical, self-disciplined and dependable.
SSA’s “Dove”
St. Scholastica Academy’s mascot comes from the story of St. Scholastica, who was the twin sister of St. Benedict. When St. Scholastica passed away, a dove was seen flying up and circling the monastery. St. Benedict said the dove symbolized St. Scholastica’s soul. Today, the Dove is the spirit and soul of SSA. “The mascot is the faith, drive and heart of SSA,” says Jennifer Gitz, SSA Alumni Association president.
Unlike those of many other mascots, the Dove’s costume is open-faced so that the identity of the mascot is never hidden. The Dove participates in all the games, spirit days and other events on campus. In most high schools, the cheerleading coach chooses the mascot. At SSA, however, the student council selects its representative through a rigorous selection process based on the student’s agility, activity, enthusiasm and ability to come up with a cheer—and occasional dance.
“The mascot really works to get the crowd in the game,” Coach Charles Richard says. “She helps to keep the crowd alive, even when the cheerleaders aren’t there.”
Slidell High’s “Tigers”
Slidell High School’s mascot of the Bengal Tiger and colors of green and white honor two local favorites, Louisiana State University and Tulane University. Tryouts for the student mascot are usually held within the first weeks of school, but this year’s varsity mascots are two returning students. They will have attended the varsity cheer camp at LSU, learning skits and routines. The costumed students will take turns attending each of the varsity football games, but both will be present during homecoming and any playoff games.
Preserving the anonymity of Slidell High’s mascots has proven to be a difficult task in the past. “We tried keeping the identities of the Tigers secret, but it always leaks out,” says SHS teacher Whitney Abadie. Abadie says she is holding auditions for a junior varsity Tiger at the beginning of school.
Fontainebleau High’s “Spike the Bulldog”
Fontainebleau High School got its mascot of Spike the Bulldog by popular demand fourteen years ago. Randy Morgan, the initial principal of the school, visited the junior highs that were to feed into the new school and asked the students to cast their vote on what mascot and colors they felt would best represent their new school. Later, Morgan announced that the new mascot would be the Bulldog, adorned in black and red.
“The mascot is really one of the school’s biggest spirit leaders,” FHS teacher Aimee Bobo-Faist says. “He really helps out at all of the games and keeps the crowd’s enthusiasm up. He is almost just another part of the squad.” She says one of her most memorable moments with Spike was when he drove onto the field in a classic Corvette with Coach Larry Farve during the second round of the playoffs. She says the whole crowd erupted with cheering for their grand entrance.
Northshore High’s “Panther”
Like FHS, Northshore High School’s mascot, the Panther, was selected through the balloting of junior high students who were to enter the new school in 1983. There is no designated student mascot; rather students rotate the responsibility with each event.
Covington High’s “Lion”
Covington High School’s tryouts for its Lion mascot coincide with cheerleading tryouts. For auditions, prospective representatives must prepare a cheer to their choice of music and do a sideline skit to get the crowd involved. They are allowed the use of posters and props and are judged based on originality, music choice, impression and broad motions. Once selected, CHS mascots are then invited to attend cheerleading camp to participate in mascot classes at LSU.
Other Mascots
Some of the other local high schools and their mascots are First Baptist Christian’s “Eagle,” Pope John Paul II’s “Jaguar,” Northlake Christian’s “Wolverine,” St. Paul’s “Wolf,” Archbishop Hannan’s “Hawk,” Hammond’s “Tornado,” St. Thomas Aquinas’ “Falcon,” and Ponchatoula’s “Green Wave.” Pearl River High School currently does not have a mascot. Its school spirit is symbolized by a sword. Salmen High School’s “Spartan” was chosen with the opening of the school in 1965, but at present there is no student mascot representative.
The Life of a Mascot
Being a mascot is not all glory. Mascots carry around a costume which may weigh anywhere from 10 to15 pounds dry, depending on its design. The stuffy costumes also provide limited airflow, which typically causes the uniform to become dampened through perspiration, adding about two to three pounds more to its weight. Mascots must be cautious, because many costumes impair the vision of its wearer and make it difficult for that person to perform tasks that may otherwise seem simple.
In addition to the limitations that come with wearing a costume, many student mascots take an oath of silence and anonymity during their reign as the school’s spirit leader, making it difficult to communicate with others. They live a life that is very different from that of a regular student, balancing their academics as a student with the responsibility of keeping school spirit alive at multiple events. Nevertheless, student mascots continue to sprint up and down the sidelines, waving their wings, paws or arms to hype up the crowds in the stands. They help cheerleaders in routines. They lead the marching bands in parades. They attend homecomings, honor roll breakfasts and new-student orientations. They even frequently appear at charitable events to exhibit the school’s commitment to giving back to the community.
Somehow reminiscent of the spirit figures of ancient civilizations, these secretive, masked student mascots devote a year or more of their life to being a mysteriously magical symbol of school unity and pride. Regardless of how one chooses to view these student mascots, it is undeniable that, because of their dedication, they do much to nurture the spirit and pride in the hearts of their school community.
