The Baker University mascot provides school spirit at Baker sporting events, and the man in charge of providing that spirit this year is junior Jonathan Affalter.
Affalter became the Baker mascot when Athletic Director Dan Harris appointed him to the position. Harris saw Affalter last year, and earlier this year at sporting events at Baker and saw how great his school spirit was. So, he asked Affalter about the position, which he gladly accepted.
“Dan Harris saw the spirit I had at sporting events and recommended the mascot position to me,” Affalter said.
Affalter started the mascot position this year during basketball season. So far Affalter has been the mascot at home basketball games and also has been to a few away games.
“I’ve been to a few away games and went to the playoff games, I usually go to the games that are close enough to Baker,” Affalter said.
Affalter will mascot at football games as well in the future, but not only does he mascot at sporting events here, he also participates in parades around Baldwin City.
“I also participate in community events such as the Christmas parades and also the Maple Leaf (Festival) parade”, Affalter said.
Affalter said he comes up with his own routines and cheers when he is at the games.
“During the games my cheers are done from the spur of the moment,” Affalter said. “I just feed off the crowd.”
This year Affalter also participated in the Heart of America Athletic Conference spirit squad championship. He competed against the mascots there and came out with third place overall. Since he was competing against other mascots, he received help from other cheerleaders.
“Some of the cheerleaders here helped me on my routine and cheers for the competition,” Affalter said.
Freshman cheerleader Darcey Nance said she thinks Affalter has a lot of great school spirit and does a great job of being the mascot here at Baker.
“He has a lot of great cheers and is fun to watch,” Nance said. “He also does a really good job of distracting the other team.”