Meet the New Face of PHS Spirit

A new custom made mascot based off the lion from the school logo is expected to debut at the end of the year, hopefully bringing new energy to sports games, rallies, and school events.
The idea for the mascot started with a single student, who, after noticing the strong school spirit at PHS, saw an opportunity to take it to the next level.
“I noticed we have good school spirit, but I thought it could be even more fun,” said the junior. “I’ve seen other schools with mascots, and I think it really helps bring people together. Since we don’t have a cheer team, having a mascot could play a big role in hyping up the crowd.”
The PHS junior took the idea to PHS Principal David Yoshihara, who immediately saw potential in the plan. With support from ASB, parent clubs, athletics, and booster organizations, the project moved forward. After several rounds of discussions and design tweaks, The mascot is currently being custom-made and is expected to be completed by May.
“We’re really excited to bring this to life,” Yoshihara said. “A student originally asked if we had a mascot and expressed interest in being one, which sparked the whole process. We’ve had a lot of support from different groups to make this happen.”
Yoshihara said that the mascot’s identity will remain a secret, a request made by the student who proposed the idea.
“[Keeping the mascot anonymous] adds to the fun and mystery, and it lets whoever is in the suit just focus on entertaining and engaging with the crowd,” said Yoshihara.
Athletic Director Tyler Small said he has seen firsthand how a mascot can impact school spirit. Before coming to PHS, he worked at a school in Indiana with a long-standing mascot tradition.
“I was at a school with a mascot before, and I thought it made a big difference at games,” Small said. “It adds another layer to high school sports, and it can even be fun for younger kids in the community to engage with. I think it’d be cool if the mascot made an appearance at the elementary school one day.”
While the student who originally came up with the idea will take on the role of the mascot this year, the position may open up to others in the future.
Sophomore Gray Sanford said he is already interested in the role and sees it as a unique opportunity to engage with the crowd.
“I think it would be a really fun experience,” Sanford said. “I’ve always been interested in being a mascot, and I think it could be cool to hype up the crowd and interact with people in a way I normally wouldn’t.”
Small said he believes having multiple students share the role would ensure that a mascot is always present at events, even when schedules conflict.
“It would be good to have at least three people available so we can have a mascot at all major games and events,” Small said.
In addition to school sports games, the mascot is expected to appear at rallies, ASB events, and even community functions. Yoshihara said he is also looking into different outfits for the mascot to keep its look fresh and engaging. Outfits and accessories including jerseys, headbands, and sunglasses are all on the table.
“We want the mascot to have some variety,” Yoshihara said. “It’ll be great to see how the students react when it finally makes its debut, whether at a senior night or another special event.”