Nighthawk Joins Cheerleaders On Sidelines At Newtown High School

By Andy Hutchison

Bobcats, Panthers, Mustangs, Wildcats and, of course … Nighthawks.

Area high schools all have mascots — or at least images of their beloved team leader in spirit on their gymnasium floors and on the players’ uniforms — but not many have a mascot who is dressed in costume and excites the fans at home games.

At Newtown High School, however, the Nighthawk has soared onto the scene. For the first time in school history, a student in a mascot costume is on hand at games to get the home crowd going for every basket or clutch defensive play.

Senior student and lacrosse captain Wil Mahony initiated the implementation of the Nighthawk mascot to be at the gym and along the sidelines, to egg on supportive fans. Mahony had talked about the concept with classmates in the past and he decided to take action in this, his final year at NHS. He approached the school’s student government and peer leadership organizations and they combined to raise the necessary $1,000 to cover the cost of the costume.

“We put in $500 each and the bird has flown,” peer leadership advisor Jeff Tolson said. “When a student gets an idea and it’s approved, we try to make it happen. It was an excellent idea.”

Excellent because it shows school spirit, Tolson said.

Mahoney did the research to have the costume made and delivered, and for the past couple of weeks a big, furry Nighthawk — donning the school’s blue and yellow colors — has been at the school’s home games. The yet-to-be-named Hawk flaps his wings and runs around the gym much to the delight of the fans. The Hawk is mostly blue. He has a white chest, a big yellow beak and yellow feet and, like any good mascot, lets his emotions do the talking.

“We’re thrilled to have a mascot in the gym for each of our games,” NHS Athletic Director Gregg Simon said. “It’s a very unique opportunity — very few schools have a mascot.”

The last time the NHS mascot was this hot of a topic, there was controversy. That was a dozen years ago when the Indian was replaced by the Nighthawk. This time around, not surprisingly, there has been nothing but positive feedback at NHS.

Mahony may only be able to enjoy having the Hawk around for the remainder of his senior year, but it’s a thrill for the student who knows the mascot will be there for students for years to come.

“It was a good feeling the first day we got it and everyone was trying it on,” Mahony said. “It’s a nice thing to have for the school.”

The cheerleaders held mascot tryouts and selected the top students to wear the Hawk costume. They judged a variety of skills, including humor and energy.

“The tryouts were so fun,” senior cheer captain Alyssa DeSimone said. “We wanted to see how they could pump up the crowd. “

Eight students put on the costume and competed for a chance to spark the crowd and … well, in reality, sweat as much as the competing athletes.

The winner was junior Vanessa Richards who earned 28 of a possible 30 points during her tryout.

“She really made everyone laugh and want to watch her,” DeSimone said.

“We didn’t know she was a girl,” junior cheer captain Kaila Harrington added.

The cheerleaders/judges did not know who was in costume when they were making their decisions, and fans in the bleachers at games won’t know who’s behind the mask either. As the winner, Richards will have first dibs on which games she wants to transform into the Hawk and go to work. But three other talented student-mascots are waiting in the wings (pun intended) to energize the crowd.

Juniors Alex DiNoto and Emily Bronson, along with senior Jordan Reed, were all selected to wear the Hawk costume during the rest of the school year.

“It’s pretty exciting knowing we’re going to basically have another cheerleader help us get the crowd excited,” junior cheerleader Genna Rossi said.