Interview with Rumble

Pride of the tiger

School mascot shares experience with showing character, building tradition

1 Sydney Territo terrisyd000@hsestudents.org

Amongst the greats that have walked these halls, only one stands out as a true icon; our mascot, Rumble the Tiger. Rumble is an icon and the school’s gurehead, being ever-preWsent during our four years of high school. Rumble works hard to show us the tiger spirit we all strive to have, but what is it truly like under that mascot head? We took a chance to catch up with Rumble, and see what the mascot experience is truly like.

Q: How did you become the tiger?

A: I’ve always wanted to do mascots. When I was younger, I just liked it and I thought it was interesting, so I kind of just asked the athletic directors. I know people at the school, so I said “hey, can I do it?” and they were like “yeah hey go talk to the athletic directors” and they needed one at the start of school so they said “oh yeah you can do it.” ere were no try outs, so it was very simple.

Q: What is it like being the school’s mascot?

A: It’s a new experience. I love the student section; it is fun to be in just as a student, [but as the mascot] it is di erent and it is a good experience. You are down there in the eld court whatever event you are at, as a sporting event or volunteering for something. And the suit itself is very hot. It’s ten to 15 degrees hotter [than outside the suit], but you can see out of it. It is pretty easy to see out of, but you are very limited to where you can see. e shoes are obviously giant, to t whatever size you can get. But otherwise I enjoy it; it is a really fun experience.

Q: What is your favorite part about being Rumble?

A: I think just seeing younger kids when they get really excited and being kind of near them. ey are all jumping up and down, and also just honestly score some time interacting with people and it just is kind of fun. ere are a lot of mixed emotions with younger kids; either screaming or crying or really happy. But I think it is fun to see happy ones.

Q: Is there any part of being the mascot you don’t like?

A: No, I wouldn’t say so, but you get very sweaty. I was at mudsock taking photos, and people thought “why is your suit so wet”; that was my sweat dripping through it. So, that just comes with it, but it is still not bad. But a shower a er, let me tell you, is very nice.

Q: Is it hard balancing school work with being the mascot?

A: It depends. For football, is when I am like “oh, great”, because you stay there a erwards. I stay in a locker room for about an hour a er [the game]. You gotta just stay in there and try to get o the suit. Sometimes If I was having someone helping me to clear out everything [we would talk] because there are so many people [at the games], but otherwise it’s not bad. It’s about time management, but otherwise it is ne, it has not been that di cult for me.

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1. Rumble the tiger holds a cardboard cutout at a football game. Photo by Clara Stadler. 2. Rumble dancing at Riley Dance Marathon. Photo by Olivia Holding.