A Different Kind of Mask A look inside the life of a school mascot By Sarah Robinson
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fter graduating from Pickerington High School North in 2016, Jake Elston really found his wings at Bowling Green State University. This past year, he was chosen to be Freddy the Falcon, the BGSU mascot. Every year at BGSU, two students are selected in a competitive process for the role of each mascot, Freddy and Frieda Falcon. The duo attends every sporting event, tons of fundraisers, and even walks around campus on game days to hype everyone up. “Being in suit, you really see how many people care about BGSU,” he says. “It warmed my heart that so many people would get the brightest smiles when they saw us or high-fived us.” Elston says one of the most rewarding experiences as Freddy was participating in the annual Holidays with the Falcons, a winter break event for BGSU athletes to give presents and spend time with kids from a nearby community in need. Freddy and Frieda are big hits with the kids. “It was great going to the event and seeing how the kids were surprised and excited to see us,” he says. “Their days were made because we showed up.” Part of being a school mascot is keeping the identity a secret. “The secrecy allows people to see the mascots as just the mascots,” he says. “It’s just Freddy and Frieda.” Elston managed to hide his identity from friends and even his roommate, though that was the hardest part. It was tough to keep it under wraps, especially when dance moves or mannerisms came close to giving it away. Despite keeping it a secret from his friends, Elston had a whole community of Freddy and Frieda alumni to “It was more than being the mascot,” back him up, as well as the other three he says. “It was like a whole family to me.” students wearing the suits alongside him. Elston also found a sense of family He now considers them some of his clos- when he attended PHSN. While there, est friends. he participated in volleyball which gave
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him skills he used as a mascot. His thenteammates and coach encouraged his goofiness and it became tradition for Elston to perform a pregame dance to hype up his team before games. www.pickeringtonmagazine.com
