Highlander of the Issue: Zora Rodgers

highlander of the issue LIVING A DOUBLE LIFE as ANGUS

The face behind the mask of McLean’s beloved mascot

alexa sribar & Liyat amman REPORTERS

Hurrying across the track at McLean High School, Angus, the school mascot, is doing his best to get the sea of students on the bleachers excited. As he runs by, the varsity cheer team leads the fans in spirited chants, and the hype in the student section rises.

Angus stops near a section of bleachers and starts to dance energetically, stirring up a lively clamor from the crowd. As they cheer, what most of the fans don’t realize is that behind Angus’s intimidating grin and thick beard is the face of senior Zora Rodgers.

“[My performances] are all improvised,” Rodgers said. “I don’t plan any of the things I do.”

As the mascot for McLean High School, the routine of dancing and running in a costume while hundreds of students watch is nothing new to Rodgers. It’s her job to get students involved and excited for McLean sports games at pep rallies.

“I want to increase the spirit,” Rodgers said. “I want to make people laugh and strengthen the sense of community that people have when it comes to sports.”

Rodgers has an animated personality and is a character in her own right. Her close friends describe her as a perfect fit for Angus.

“Zora is always cracking jokes and making people smile,” senior Emma Radcliffe said. “Her commanding presence makes her a natural born leader and someone that people look up to.”

Becoming the mascot wasn’t as clear of a process as Rodgers anticipated. She didn’t become Angus until the beginning of her senior year in 2021.

I WANT TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH AND STRENGTHEN THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY THAT PEOPLE HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO SPORTS.” - ZORA RODGERS SENIOR

FLEX FOR THE CAMERA — Zora Rodgers poses next to a group of McLean football players in September. They filmed the FOX 5 special earlier that day. (Photo courtesy of Monette Dawson)

“I first decided I wanted to be mascot over the summer, but my friends and I had no idea how to apply, so it kind of dissipated,” Rodgers said. “Then during the school year, someone from McLeadership came up to me and said I’d make a good mascot, so I said I was interested, and the rest is history.”

Rodgers made her first appearance as Angus when local news station FOX 5 did a special on the McLean football team in September. “They interviewed the football team, and I was the mascot for that to represent the school.” Rodgers said. Now, Rodgers makes most of her appearances at McLean pep rallies. She works closely with the varsity cheer team, since they both aim to increase student involvement and enthusiasm at events. “I enjoy working with Zora because she’s very energetic,” freshman varsity cheerleader Lauren Abba said. “She is really good at engaging the crowd.” Stepping up to the role of Angus isn’t a difficult task for Rodgers. She approaches it with a simple and positive mindset, instead of feeling self-conscious or concerned about her performance in front of the school.

“I feel like the whole secret is to be yourself. The whole point [of being the mascot] is to have fun,” she said. “No one is going to judge you, so just leave it all out there.”

Being the school mascot is one of Rodger’s favorite hobbies. Yet in spite of how much she enjoys playing Angus, she doesn’t think she’ll pursue being a mascot in the future.

“Being a mascot is much more competitive at the collegiate level,” Rodgers said. “[Being Angus] is just something that I thought would be fun to do.”

Because Rodgers is graduating in June, a new student will have to fill her shoes next school year.

“If you’re thinking of being Angus, you should just do it. It is very nerve-wracking, but it’s also really, really, really fun,” Rodgers said. “I feel that it says a lot about a person for them to be able to do silly things in front of an entire school. If that’s your personality, then you should go for it.”

animated angus — Senior Zora Rodgers poses as herself and Angus. In her junior year, Rodgers considered becoming the school mascot and was offered the position this school year.

(Photos courtesy of Zora Rodgers)