When Imani Anderson was a freshman and saw Ethan Spozarski as the 2022 Baldwin Highlander, she knew that she wanted to eventually take on that role as the school’s mascot.

“I always wanted to be it,” said Anderson, who is now a junior. “In ninth grade I was like, ‘Who is this guy and how can I become him?’ He just looked like he was having a lot of fun.”

Anderson started asking about becoming the Highlander at the beginning of this school year. That’s how Athletic Director Anthony Cherico first met her.

“She has been talking to me about it for the last five or six months. She is extremely interested in it,” Cherico said. “I think she is going to take it with a lot of pride. I think her school spirit is obviously there, and she is a really good kid.”

The current Highlander, senior Kevin Hutchinson, also knew that Anderson wanted to be the Highlander.

“She approached me about it last year and asked how she could become the Highlander,” he said.

Cherico said Anderson will make a great Highlander, filling an important role at the school. She will be the third female Highlander in school history.

“It’s a representation of what we are and who we are,” he said of the Highlander mascot.

Anderson also performed in Baldwin’s spring musical, Cinderella, so the performance skills she gained from that will help in her work as the Highlander. She is also a member of the preschool program at Baldwin.

Anderson embodies all the qualities the Highlander should have, Hutchinson said.

“I was looking for somebody who could be a good role model. I wanted someone who was a kind person, who would be responsible, and somebody who has a lot of energy and wants to do it,” Hutchinson said. “She’s really enthusiastic. She has a lot of energy. She’s a good student. She represents a lot of what we value here at Baldwin and that’s the kind of person I wanted.”

Anderson, who will be Baldwin’s third female Highlander, learned that she had won the role before the spring sports pep rally. 

“They told me a week before so that I knew and could plan stuff out,” she said.

Anderson is excited to be the Highlander and all it entails. She does not know everything she wants to do, but she has a few ideas.

“I love being loud. I am excited to dye my hair purple and paint myself purple,” she said.

Hutchinson is also excited for Anderson to be the Highlander.

“I’m super excited. I think she’s going to be great,” he said.