Fireworks exploded as animals of all shapes and sizes dashed out onto the football field, sandwiched between hundreds of cheerleaders. As the music started, the cheerleaders started their synchronized routine to the opening strains of Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” while a somewhat organized melee of animals danced around to the beat.
Towards the back of what could be described as a zoo, Chandler High School’s very own Leo the Lion could be seen, dancing in a 2005 championship jersey on loan from the football team. It’s the first time a mascot from Chandler has made All-American and performed at a bowl game, though they’ve had cheerleaders win the honor in the past.
This year, they performed at the Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Day.
Of course, it’s been dream for senior Ashlee Beatty, who has donned Leo the Lion for a year and a half now. She was one of 50 mascots selected from high schools across the United States to join the All-American team.
“It was good. It was fun. It was cool,” Beatty said, right before admitting her thoughts running on the field were more focused on not running into the pyrotechnics. She said the best part of the Citrus Bowl was seeing everyone’s suits and practicing. “Everyone’s suits were unique or different in some way.”
Beatty approached cheerleading coach Cynthia Snider about being Leo when she noticed there was no mascot.
“I just thought it’d be cool,” she said. “I didn’t even have to try out. I just got to be the mascot.”
Snider said mascots ebb and flow. Some years, there’s none and others, she has five people wanting to be Leo. When Beatty approached her, there hadn’t been a mascot in a few years.
“Ashlee’s probably the first one I’ve had that did it all by herself,” Snider said. “When she puts that suit on, that girl is on… She’s worked hard to get where she’s at.”
Becoming Leo has been a way for Beatty to come out of her shell, according to both Snider and Ashlee’s mother, Jennifer Pryor. The senior has autism and said being Leo has helped to build her confidence.
One of the best things about being Leo is being in front of a crowd, Beatty added, especially since they don’t always know it’s her.
“The anonymity makes it very easy to be a little more silly and goofy and it’s allowed,” Ashlee said.
Beatty puts together all her routines, including the one she used when she auditioned for All-American.
She and her mother also take the lead when it comes to appearances at community events and supporting the high school’s various teams and clubs.
However, being a mascot comes with its challenges. Ashlee said it’s difficult to see when she puts Leo’s head on, and she has to have a handler to help her get around. The suit also requires a lot of special care.
“There’s definitely a lot of maintenance. You have to keep him (Leo) clean or it gets very smelly. And you can’t clean him like regular things. You have to hang dry him,” she said. “He’s very delicate.”
Being Leo has also opened new avenues for Ashlee. She plans to attend the University of Central Oklahoma in the fall and major in graphic design, which she hopes to use to sell her own art. She’s also been invited to audition for the UCO mascot, Buddy the Bronco, in May.
Beatty said her plan for college has come together in the last four months, and before that, she hadn’t considered going.
Either way, at the end of the school year, Ashlee will hang up Leo for good. She has advice for whoever takes on the lion next.
“Definitely have a fan on in that head. Stay hydrated,” she said. “Have fun. Obviously, have fun.”