NEW ORLEANS — For the second time in three years, Vanderbilt mascot Mr. Commodore has captured a national championship at the Cheerleaders of America Collegiate National Championship.
Mascot Meredith Baither, who played the mascot during each championship, said the second victory may have been more stressful than the first.
“I actually felt much more pressure with this competition than my first due to the fact that we had already set the precedent with the 2003 NCA championship,” Baither says. “Two years ago, I came in as the complete underdog with no competition experience whatsoever. I found the challenge to stay on top to be much more difficult.”
Baither, a senior, noted that a year ago the mascot squad was unable to compete at the national championships because of a scheduling conflict.
Mr. Commodore’s winning skit Saturday was a variation of one that was performed at a halftime show last year, in which Mr. Commodore was busy trying to win over a woman. Baither’s mascot cohort and fellow Mr. Commodore performer, Matt Galante, dressed in drag to play the female role. Using a giant book titled “Winning Women for Dummies”, Mr. Commodore tried to gain this girl’s affections after being struck by cupid’s arrow (a timely Valentines theme).
“I love the determination that Meredith and Matt both showed to get this together,” says Pam Pearson, Vanderbilt’s cheer coach. “They had to make all the props, practice and perform so well. I have a very talented, hard working, dedicated cheer team and the mascots are a big part of that! We love it that we now have two national championships for the mascots and are very proud of them for representing Vanderbilt University so well.”
|