Willy the Wildcat's Identity a Secret

Ever wonder who Willy the Wildcat, Duluth High School's zany, energetic, charismatic mascot is?

Well, don't expect to find out by reading this article. The writer has been sworn to absolute secrecy. Just know that Willy loves what he does and wants the crowd to love him too -- all but Duluth's opponents, that is.

Willy said he doesn't mind the anonymity. "If the anonymity is broken, the character is not 'Willy,' he said. So, to maintain anonymity, I try not to tell very many people what I do. I also don't respond to my real name while I am in character."

Of course, there a few folks who know who Willy really is, like the cheerleaders and cheer coach, but they're not telling either. "I like to keep everyone guessing," Willy said.

But I can tell you that he became Willy the Wildcat by attending Duluth High School's eighth-grade orientation. As he was considering what to choose as an extracurricular activity, the school's cheerleading coach approached and asked if he would like to be a cheerleader. Willy's dad jokingly suggested that he become the mascot instead, and so he became Willy the Wildcat.

What is Willy's No. 1 responsibility as the school mascot? "To bring high spirit and cheer to all football games, basketball games and community events," he said.

Not just anyone can become the school mascot, however. It takes a lot of hard work and practice. Willy has attended a number of camps to learn his craft.

"The camps are very exciting. We learn the basics of developing character and maintaining the costume. We learn a skit and a line dance that we perform on the last day of camp in front of about 500 cheerleaders and the staff. Throughout the camp we are given ribbons that tell us how we are doing and what we need to improve."

Acting goofy is all part of a mascot's routine."Who wants a serious mascot? A mascot needs to be rambunctious and spunky, keeping the audience wanting more crazy shenanigans," Willy said.

But, just like athletes and today's athletic cheerleaders, Willy has to be physically fit. "People don't realize that mascots need to be in good shape," Willy said. "I found it very difficult to mascot at first because my endurance wasn't very high. Now, it is second nature to run, jump, and climb lots of bleachers to please the crowd."

Willy said the best part of being a mascot is "expressing the character and having fun doing practically anything to get people's attention."

Anybody who has sat through an early-season high school football game in 90 degree weather already knows what the most difficult part is. "The heat is excruciating, and it's harder to stay in character," Willy said.

Willy said he would like nothing more than to become a mascot in college. Who knows? One crisp autumn day in the near future, he might run out onto the football field at the University of Georgia in Athens as the mascot for the Georgia Bulldogs.