Grayslake North introduced the new mascot named Nigel in May, and they have big plans for him.
“We’ve been the Grayslake Knights but had nothing to attach that to. The mascot breathes spirit for our school,” said Principal Dr. James Roscoe.
The mascot is expected to increase the school’s spirit and attend all school events, such as sports events, graduation, senior nights and orientation.
“Athletic Council voted on their top five choices of names for the mascot. Then the coaches and the sponsors voted on their top choice to dwindle it down to three names. The week after, we had an all school vote for the top choice,” said activities director Molly Tomlinson.
The all-school vote for the final name of the mascot was held outside the cafeteria.
“We had a three phase process of ruling out the mascot. The first was naming the mascot. Phase two was exposing the Knight to students, and the third phase was to hold tryouts at the end of the school year to pick the Knight for next year,” Tomlinson said.
As the person in charge of creating the mascot, Tomlinson used a three phase process resembling the process colleges use to rule out their mascots. The date and location have not been decided for tryouts yet.
“We will probably have the tryouts in the gym, either at the end of May or early next year,” said athletic director Tina Woolard.
The goal is to have the mascot respectfully represent North and encourage students to do the same.
“If you go back to the olden days of a knight, you would want them to have a take charge spirit, a chivalrous aspect. We want the Knight to represent who we are as a school and community,” Roscoe said. “Identifying who we are through a mascot is attaching yourself to something that’s tangible, which escalates the spirit for everybody.”
The school is looking for someone to become Nigel the Knight. Applications are due on May 12 to the athletic office.
“The message students are expected to get from the mascot is to be proud to be a Knight,” Woolard said.