New Mascot for Austin High
Madison Fare-Staff Writer for The Maroon
Over the summer the uniform of our mascot was replaced with a new design, the $5,000 inflatable. It now cheers on our football team and represents our school. Sophomore Hannah Bergman is Austin High’s new mascot. She is in the Austin High Orchestra, but decided to take on a new opportunity so that she could represent Austin High.
“[ I just want to] be crazy without being myself,” Bergman said. To become the mascot Bergman tried out by creating and performing a skit and submitting an application which included an essay asking the candidates why they wanted to be the Mr. Maroo mascot.
“It’s better because it looks fuzzier and more like Mr. Maroo. It has a constant air flow which is good for the cleanliness of it all since the mascot is cleaned only twice a year,” Bergman said. Despite the price tag Bergman thinks it’s a much better design, and money well spent. In contrast to Bergman’s view, some students have not taken to the new mascot so quickly.
“It looks really different. I kind of liked that old one better. It was cuter. The little hairs make it look like it has dread locks,” senior Emily Mixon said. Although many students at Austin High find the new mascot odd, the person inside is commited to Austin High and firing up the spirit of the crowd.
“I stand on the field facing the crowd with the cheerleaders and I jump around and cheer. I’m like a giant, maroon puffball cheerleader! It’s really fun and you’re not nervous because it’s not really you out there. Nobody knows who you are since you’re in costume. Also, you can’t see the crowd,” Bergman said.