Timmus the Tiger strikes again: behind the scenes of Summit High School’s first mascot in ten years

After ten years, Timmus the Tiger has made a reappearance as Summit High School’s mascot, helping to bring more school spirit to fall sports and pep rallies.

Timmus the Tiger supports fall sports, attending football, volleyball, and soccer games. Photo by Westleigh Willis

By Mackenzie Cross

Oct. 7, 2024

With the fall sports season in full swing, Timmus the Tiger has been making frequent appearances at school games. Summit High School’s mascot is known to many students, but do they really know the work that goes into being Timmus?

After noticing there hadn’t been a school mascot at SHS in more than ten years, senior Hunter Ginsburg decided to step up and reintroduce the tradition.

“I really wanted to help bring school spirit to SHS and help get the vibe up overall,” Ginsburg said. “I really feel that what brings a school together is having a mascot kind of leader.”

Ginsburg has been proudly sporting the mascot costume at SHS pep rallies, football, volleyball, and soccer games since November of 2023. He insists, however, that the job is harder than what most people think. It is known that Timmus has more than one student representative, but recently, Ginsburg has found himself running a one man show.

“When I asked to become the mascot, I thought it would be easy and stress free,” he said. “Little did I know it is very hot and claustrophobic in the costume. The head alone weighs 10 pounds."

Despite these setbacks, Hunter loves his job representing SHS. “I really enjoy being the mascot,” he said. 

With the spotlight on the mascot to perform, it is important that Hunter keeps the crowd hyped up at all of the school events. To be the mascot, you have to put the pep in pep rallies and the pride in Summit Tigers. Hunter’s job goes beyond prancing around at school events, however.

“Getting ready for games and events is a very long and important process,” he says. “It starts with my assistant arriving about 45 minutes before the game starts. Next, I start putting my costume on from head to toe. It continues with my assistant doing a full head to toe check to confirm the costume is properly on. After the game or event I do that whole process backwards.”

Once Hunter graduates, it will be the responsibility of future students to carry on this newly reintroduced tradition. 

“I would definitely recommend this to students,” he said.