Madison Somerville is in her second year of being Eddie the Wildcat, the mascot for Edison High School, and takes joy in bringing joy to others as part of a “roaring” role through her costumed presence at sporting events. -- Contributed

They can be seen along the sidelines at local sporting events — colorful, often furry creatures with large heads — cheering on local teams and dancing to fight songs trumpeted by marching bands, but they also can be found visiting elementary schools and festivals, entertaining people of all ages with their wild antics.

They are the high school mascots, and their desire to don the outrageous costumes of crazy characters often was sparked by others from the same ranks.

Emma Scott was the inspiration, for example, behind Madison Somerville’s interest.

It’s what made Somerville, daughter of Matt and Chris Somerville of Richmond, want to be Eddie the Wildcat, the mascot for Edison High School.

“Watching our previous mascot, Emma Scott, made me realize that I wanted to be a mascot, too,” explained the Edison High School sophomore, now in her second year in the role.

As the Brooke Bruin, Colin Hutchison appeared at the Brooke County Fair this summer, even stepping in for a couple of practice rounds with children in the festival’s tug-of-war competition. -- Warren Scott

“It always seemed like so much fun, seeing little kids and getting the crowd pumped up,” Somerville noted.

Tryouts involved coming up with and performing her own dance routine in front of a panel of judges — work that was worth the effort.

Somerville takes joy in bringing joy to others as part of a “roaring” role through her costumed presence, mainly at varsity football and basketball games.

But she’s also been to swim meets, volleyball games and cross country competitions as well.

“I’m also hoping to bring school spirit to some girls’ basketball and soccer games this year,” commented Somerville, who defined her duties as ones that involve a presence and purpose, minus any vocals, though.

As Man o’ War, the Steubenville High School’s equine mascot, Shawn Blanchard is accompanied by the school’s cheerleaders in rallying support for the school’s athletes. -- Contributed

“I greet fans at the gate before the game, and during games I perform on the sidelines with the cheerleaders. I also go to various school events, such as pep rallies. I sometimes attend other sporting events besides football games. I even get to compete at some cheering competitions with the cheerleaders,” she explained.

“My main job is to get the crowd pumped up and bring a lot of energy,” she said. “And, no, I’m not allowed to talk.”

If there’s a down side to being a mascot, it’s getting used to the outfit.

“It can get very hot on some days, but I have a fan and an ice pack vest to combat that. Other than that, it’s not too uncomfortable,” she said.

Somerville is making mascot memories.

Nathan Jones, better known as Nate the Knight, regularly cheers on the Toronto Red Knights football team as the school’s mascot.

“One funny story happened at Beaver Local during a basketball game,” she began the telling. “It was around Christmas time, and during halftime, our coaches had Beaver’s mascot and me chase the Grinch around the court. It was one of the funniest things I’ve ever done, and definitely my favorite mascot memory from basketball season,” she assured.

There is plenty to like about being a mascot.

“What I like most is a tie between Friday night football games and competing in cheer competitions with the cheerleaders. They’re both so much fun,” she said, identifying her least favorite part being the heat the suit can generate. “It can be pretty unbearable, especially at the beginning of football season.”

People respond positively to Eddie the Wildcat for the most part.

“Most kids love it. I’ve gotten a lot of hugs and high-fives,” she said, noting there have been a few times when kids have been scared, “but most of them have a lot of fun with it. Even older kids and adults will stop to take pictures with me sometime.”

Buckeye Local High School senior Hank Kelly has played Spike the Wheeling Nailers’ canine mascot and the Washington Wild Thing at professional sporting events as well as his school’s panther mascot. -- Contributed

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Nathan Jones has become something of a fixture at the Toronto Red Knights’ athletic events, donning the helmet and armor of the school’s mascot for 17 years.

A 1998 Toronto graduate, Jones — or Nate the Knight, as he’s fondly known by fans — was approached by former mascot Larry Hunt to assume the role and having attended Red Knights’ games from an early age, eagerly accepted.

A Christian, he sees the role as something of a spiritual calling, noting Ephesians 6:13-18 exhorts followers of Christ to take up the armor of God.

But he also enjoys hamming it up, raising his artificial sword skyward to urge the school’s athletes on to victory.

Maureen Taggart, superintendent of Toronto City Schools, said, “He tries to interact with the crowd and get everyone pumped up, especially when there’s a big play or turnover.”

Betsy Jones, the school’s principal, agreed, saying, “He tries to get the crowd going. He really does a nice job.”

Born with Down syndrome, Jones also lives with cardiac conditions and brittle diabetes, conditions that would put him at serious risk if he contracted COVID-19.

To avoid exposure that risk, he had to sit out a season, which wasn’t easy for him.

But school officials said he has since returned with great enthusiasm.

“It was nice to see him on the sidelines again,” said Taggart.

When not rooting on his fellow Red Knights, Jones has kept busy volunteering at his church and working for more than 20 summers at the local swimming pool.

He also has dabbled in acting, appearing as a chimney sweep and serving on the stage crew for a local production of “A Christmas Carol” and as a newsboy in the Ghost Walk held by the Toronto Historical Society.

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Steubenville High School senior Shawn Blanchard also was recruited to serve as the school’s mascot, a role he gladly stepped into this year.

“I figured, it’s my senior year — why not?” said Blanchard, who has donned various costumes for school plays but “nothing to the degree of the horse.”

He said the mascot’s name isn’t Big Red, the moniker for the school’s athletic teams — as some might believe — but Man ‘o War, a legendary racehorse that won 20 of its 21 races and set seven track records in its racing career.

Perhaps because the real Man ‘o War also was known as Big Red, the horse became an emblem for the school.

In addition to appearing at Big Red football games, Blanchard joins the high school’s marching band and cheerleaders in stirring students up for each week’s game with a Friday morning procession into the commons area.

Blanchard said he develops his own dance moves and other routines, thinking to himself, “This might be cool, this might be a little goofy.”

“I kind of just do it. If I like it, I stick to it,” he said, adding he also receives input from Cierra Jones, the school’s head cheering coach.

Blanchard confirmed it can be quite warm inside the costume, especially on August evenings at the start of the football season. Also, his vision is limited somewhat by the mask, so he often needs another person to guide him in public.

But all of that aside, Blanchard said, “I’m having a whole lot of fun.”

He gladly stops to pose for photos and greets fans of all ages, which can spur a wide range of reactions.

“You’ll have kids come up and hug you and some will cry. You win some, you lose some,” said Blanchard.

He noted a friend’s toddler sister is always happy to see him.

“That’s my favorite part of it — being the highlight of someone’s evening,” Blanchard said.

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Brooke High School junior Colin Hutchison is in his second year as the school’s Bruin mascot, a role he has enjoyed a lot.

Hutchison said he heard a few classmates were interested in the job when auditions were announced, but he was the only one to show.

Asked what inspired him to try out, he said, “Seeing the mascots on TV. Since I was a little kid, I wanted to be one.”

Asked if he has a favorite mascot, Hutchison said he likes the energy of Benny the Bull, the Chicago basketball team’s often acrobatic ambassador.

Hutchison said as the Bruin, he enjoys interacting with people of various ages at the school’s athletic events.

He said young children often are shy around him, and he tries to break the ice by dropping to his knees to greet them.

“Playing peekaboo seems to help a lot,” he added.

Hutchison confirmed it’s easy to become hot in the Bruin’s furry costume, and during recent warm weather, he’s taken regular breaks for water.

“I think I lost 4 or 5 pounds (in sweat) during the first home game,” he joked.

Not that sweat is foreign to him. Outside school, Hutchison works for a local contractor and is a junior firefighter with the Hooverson Heights Volunteer Fire Department.

Asked if he would consider being a professional mascot, he said, “If I had the opportunity, sure.”

Credit for the current Bruin costume goes to his predecessor, Braydon DeMaria.

After finding the school’s 17-year-old suit a bit stinky, DeMaria set out to raise about $4,000 for a new one. He accomplished the goal through the sale of Brooke memorabilia and donations from individuals, businesses and groups.

Among them were the staff and pupils of Wellsburg Primary School, where a Chinese auction was held and the children were invited to have photos taken with the Bruin.

DeMaria has since gone on to Pittsburgh Technical College, where he is preparing for a career as an electrician.

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One might call Hank Kelly of Buckeye Local High School a triple threat. He had assumed the roles of Spike the Dog, the Wheeling Nailers’ mascot, and the Washington Wild Things’ mascot, a creature with features of various animals, before being offered the part of the Buckeye Panther.

Kelly said auditions had been held for the school’s mascot in the past but when no one else stepped up, “They pretty much told me, you’ve got it, kid.”

An aspiring actor, Kelly has created and appeared in humorous videos for social media since he was 9 or 10 and has sung and danced in school plays since he was 12. He sees the three mascots as another outlet for that interest.

“I have a personality for each character,” he said, noting Spike is perhaps the most distinct with his “tough-guy” demeanor.

Kelly noted each costume also is different, with its own strengths and challenges. For example, the Panther suit affords him the most mobility.

“You’ve got to dance a lot as a mascot,” he said.

While Spike carries a real hockey stick and other equipment, it’s not a burden because he has held them while playing in a Wheeling hockey club.

Kelly said regardless, “To be a mascot, you have to be adaptable.”

“I grew up going to Nailers and Wild Things games and always wondered what it would be like to be a mascot,” said Kelly.

He added Nitro, the mascot of the Indianapolis Fuel hockey team, also made a big impression on him when he was 10.

Kelly is paid for his time as the Wild Thing and Spike and in both cases, is one of a few actors who play the characters for various occasions.

“I do events as Spike. I don’t do the games,” Kelly noted, adding he has appeared at the Barnesville Pumpkin Festival and other community events.

He said in such settings he draws a variety of reactions.

“Some people are giving you hugs and high fives,” Kelly said, while others may appear uneasy and he will determine whether to approach them slowly or not at all.

He said whatever the occasion, his goal is simple.

Speaking perhaps for all school mascots, Kelly said, “I’m there to make sure everyone has a good time.”