photo credit: Marla Marrero
As the student section cheers after a Pioneer touchdown with the band playing a celebratory tune, the cheer team dances and shakes their pom poms. Among them is something fans might not expect to see on the sidelines: a well-loved toy rat dressed head to toe in school spirit wear.
Friday night football has seen a new spirited mascot on the sidelines: Pioneer Curtis, the varsity cheer team’s unlikely new mascot.
“Curtis was first introduced to the cheer team at UCA camp, which is the camp that we go to over the summer. He became kind of like our unofficial team mascot. We would pass Curtis around, and he was like our good luck symbol. We made TikToks about him and posted pictures about him, and it was this funny inside joke that bonded all of us,” senior varsity cheerleader Mia Schisler said.
Having a shared emblem for the team did more than just create jokes; it helped to create connections between the cheerleaders throughout their season.
“He has definitely helped the cheer team get closer, and he’s just kind of a great bonding for us, especially at UCA when it’s very high stress. He’s a great way to keep our spirits up and have something to kind of all laugh about. I feel like that’s kind of rolled into our actual season, just keeping everyone bonded with a common joke between everyone,” Schisler said.
The cheer team dresses Curtis to match every theme at football games to help cheer on the team. They have made many creative outfits for themes such as USA, Hawaiian and Pinkout and have even created a senior poster for Curtis to hang alongside the other senior cheer posters.
“He brings energy to the football games by participating in the theme for the game and visiting the student section,” Varsity Cheer Coach and Intervention Aide Jennifer Smith said.
Beyond uniting the cheerleaders, Curtis has quickly gained popularity in the school and on social media, gaining almost a thousand followers in only three months. Many pictures on the account feature Curtis around the school and with various students and staff.
“A lot of students love Curtis and like to take pictures with him! He is becoming more popular on social media and has 951 followers on Instagram,” Smith said.
Since the mascot for the school changed in 2021, many students and the community haven’t been able to have a physical mascot to embody the school. Curtis has helped to change that.
“I’ve definitely seen as a whole a lot of people so excited to get a picture with him. People have asked me about him in classes, and he has quite a large following on Instagram and TikTok, so it was just funny to see everyone uniting over something so childish and silly, especially my senior year of high school,” Schisler said.
Curtis has united students and staff from all different programs, creating an unexpected community bond that supports the school in a lighthearted and creative manner.
“Curtis has, in a way, brought a lot of people closer together. I feel like it’s helped to build connections with the football players, the student section and the band and also with some of the staff members. I know Mr. Nash and Mrs. Ellis have gotten photos with him. Just in total, he’s brought people together in such a funny and unique way,” Schisler said.
As the Pioneer football team continues to dominate its competition, athletes and fans alike stand with Curtis to support our school and what it means to be a Pioneer.
