MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Today was the first day of classes for Marquette Senior High School, and before the first bell sounded, the student body was introduced to their new mascot.
The introduction was made during a first-period assembly where students also got to meet the new principal, Gavin Johnson. The as-yet-unnamed mascot resembles an ancient Spartan warrior, in keeping with the Sentinel theme. now
“Now that we have a new nickname that we could actually create a mascot around. We thought, well, this is a great opportunity to bring it to life. And so, working with the student council and the athletic department, we went out looking for what a new mascot might look like and how we could create one,” said Assistant Principal, Chris Messano.
The name of the mascot will be up to an advisory board of students and faculty to be decided later in the school year.
“We’re going to put it to a vote. So each advisory class will come up with a name that they think is the best name, and then it’ll go into a vote,” said Messano.
The suit will be worn by students who volunteer for the job. The helmet of the Sentinel will give nothing away, as the identity of the person in the costume will be a closely guarded secret, only to be revealed perhaps at graduation.
“The big thing is they really want to stay anonymous, and they want to try to keep it a kind of a mystery,” remarked Messano
After all the controversy surrounding Marquette’s, name change, school officials simply want to put the past behind them and go forward united as Sentinels.
The Sentinel will make its varsity football debut this Friday. Marquette hosts Alpena at Hart Stadium in Marquette.