Masuk Free Press

Every school has a mascot for its teams, yet they are often overlooked in the eyes of the student body. At Masuk, we have our panther, McLovin. Although he does not score touchdowns or put up stats on the field, he helps bring energy to a crowd of Masuk students. Whether it be at the football games or the pep rallies, McLovin makes his presence known.

Former Masuk assistant principal Mark Schwarz said, about the panther’s origin “Shortly after Superbad released, the graduating class gave us a gift of the panther costume, we had a pep assembly, and we realized the panther didn’t have a name. We sent out a representative of each class to the gym floor to suggest names, and there wasn’t much noise for the first three suggestions. Then, the senior sauntered up to the mic and he looked around and said ‘McLovin’ and the crowd went nuts.”

For most current students and teachers, the Masuk Panther is a staple for this school, and it is hard to imagine a time before he got his name, let alone came into existence.

Each year a senior plays the role of the costumed cat at the home football games and pep rallies. Last year, the feline hype man was played by a willing senior, and each year before him another donned the mask. To be energetic and jubilant for an extended amount of time is a tall order for anyone, and these individuals need to be expressive and lively for hours on end. 

This year, a crop of new students have stepped into the role of the school mascot. It seems that right now, the Panther is being played by a committee, with different actors bringing him to life at each game. An anonymous senior was the first to take on the mask at the home opener for Masuk. Underneath the Friday night lights, the players were not the only ones suiting up. As our McLovin slips on the sleek black outfit, he will embody our school spirit and energy. 

 “I don’t think I chose to be the panther, the panther chose me,” he stated. “My mom always tells me that energy radiates off me like beams of light.”  

Every year at the pep rallies, McLovin fights opposing mascots. Currently McLovin is 11-0 against enemies such as the Stratford Red Devil or the New Fairfield Rebel. 

“McLovin doesn’t like to start trouble, but when it comes he’ll without a doubt finish it,” Schwarz said.

As a protector and guardian of our school, McLovin serves an invaluable role to our community and culture. Students are excited to see the panther make his regular appearances at school events. 

Hopefully this year will have the best panther performance yet. Senior Chris Dunn said, “I want to see a lot of energy and enthusiasm.”

“ I want to see him running all over the place,” added senior Sawyer Carlson

The panther seemed primed and ready to go for his first appearance, however, after the first half of the game he swiftly vanished from the student section. It is believed that the newest panther actor fainted within the suit after succumbing to heat exhaustion. His efforts are not forgotten and his sacrifice has touched the hearts of many. 

The panther will always be an icon for the Masuk student body as he brings a great positive energy to the student section. By volunteering their time and spirit, these students are bringing our mascot to life. Often a thankless job, the costumed performers are sure to bring passion to our school that wouldn’t be possible without them.