Senior Bri Kalogeris never imagined she would end her high school career as the Highlander, Baldwin’s mascot.
“I was actually trying to set up my friend (Dylan Ault) to do it, but then he moved,” Kalogeris said.
She’s not the only mascot this year, though. She is joined by senior Brayden Parker, as this is the first time two Highlanders are representing the school.
The candidates had to do a sit-down interview with a panel that included Athletic Director Anthony Cherico prior to their selection.
“We were looking for someone upbeat – someone who has a lot of excitement, enthusiasm, and is happy to be a Baldwin Highlander,” Cherico said. “We interviewed them, and they really stuck out.”
There is also a more practical reason for having two Highlanders this year.
“Both of them had some limitations on how often they could be there, so we decided to go with two this year to kind of help each other out,” Cherico said.
Parker figured that it would be an enjoyable experience as someone who is not into sports as much as some other students.
“It just seemed like a fun thing to do,” Parker said. “I’ve never been too into going to all the sports events, so it gives me a reason to go and support Baldwin.”
Parker said the position requires an extroverted personality.
“You constantly have to be moving when you’re down on that field,” Parker said. “Someone will always be looking at you, so you cannot just stand around and wait for something to happen.”
The two Highlanders communicate with one another through social media. They plan to bring an upbeat vibe to sports events, aiming to involve the student body.
Before games, they communicate with the band and the cheerleaders and then decide on their own what they want to do during games. They have a lot of freedom in deciding how to get the crowd excited, Cherico said.
“I’m just trying to get involved with all of the grades instead of only really talking to the people in the front of the student section at games,” Kalogeris said.
They showcase the ideal qualities of Baldwin’s Fighting Highlanders, Cherico said.
“We want them to be one of our many representatives, just like the athletes, the coaches, the band members, and the student body,” Cherico said. “We kind of hold everyone to an expectation, and they are the leaders of that.”
