Kevin Castaneda, a senior at Spring Woods High School (SWHS), finds playing Tilly the Tiger, the school’s mascot, a source of joy for himself and others.
“Making people smile makes me smile,” Kevin said. “To me, the mascot represents joy, uniting the student body in school spirit.”
A member of the swim team, Kevin felt compelled to do more for his school, so he decided to try out for mascot.
When he got the job, he quickly learned how to pump himself up before a big game or pep rally, so he could make as many people happy as possible.
One way he does that is by letting Tilly’s personality shine through with his signature move: snapping his fingers and shimmying his shoulders side to side.
“I love moving through the crowd and hyping people up,” he said. “When I do my shimmy, you can feel the energy instantly change.”
Being the mascot has also created fun memories, including running across the football field during a blackout pep rally or carrying a tiny fan, who now high-fives Kevin every time they see him.
“One of my favorite parts of being the mascot is the connections I’ve made with fans and students,” he said. “I think that is the most important job of a mascot – bringing people together.”
While he takes his job seriously, he’s had his fair share of funny moments, too. One time, Tilly’s head fell off while he was playing with the volleyball players.
“When it happened, I just froze; everyone started laughing, so I joined in,” he said.
Like his fellow mascots across Spring Branch ISD, Kevin has learned to go with the flow, which includes getting used to the heat and not letting it get him out of character.
“I can stand the heat for sure,” he said.
But even the toughest Tiger can’t wear the stripes forever. At the end of the school year, Kevin will pass the Tiger torch to someone else.
His words of wisdom: “Run a lot and interact with fans and just everyone in general.”
Long after he hands off the head and the stripes, Kevin hopes Tiger Nation remembers what he brought to them: the smiles. For him, that was always the point.