By Andy Loigu

Sports writers usually do not devote columns to mascots. However, when said mascot was a district champion wrestler for a school in his coverage area, that’s a different story.

Many of you who have been Warren Hills wrestling fans for more than just a few years, probably remember Gregg Wiseburn. He upheld the Blue Streaks’ mat tradition well, winning the District 1 championship in 2001, after earning the Outstanding Wrestler award at the John Goles Tournament the year before and qualifying for the Region 1 Tournament the year before that (a significant achievement for a sophomore).

Now he wears a tiger outfit for Princeton University and enjoys being interactive with fans of the tradition-rich Ivy League athletics program, appearing at community events, mascot parties and simply making kids and kids at heart smile and laugh.

His mascot career includes several years of representing a team in the National Football League which has been in the playoffs many times and has a pretty good quarterback. After having gained professional mascot experience with minor league baseball teams in New Jersey, he learned of an NFL opening in 2009. His tryout came in January of 2009 at a playoff game on a cold winter’s day. From that chilly beginning, he went on in a couple of years to perform at The Pro Bowl in Hawaii.

The team does not want to disclose the identities of their mascots, fearing it would spoil the magic for children.

Well, when the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team debuted The Phillies Phanatic back in 1978, his human identity was known to the adult fans (University of Delaware grad Dave Raymond) but little kids don’t read the papers. They thought the furry green anteater was real and followed him around Veterans’ Stadium like he was the pied piper. Since the successful debuts of the Phanatic and the unforgettable (or forgettable depending on your point of view) San Diego Chicken, the sports world has not been the same. Now, everybody wants a funny mascot.

It is not a job that just anybody off the street can walk in and do well.

Taking dancing lessons as a youngster turned out to be a good career move for Gregg. “My athletic training and having a good sense of rhythm have served me well as a mascot,” he said. “Working as a mascot makes you keep up a fitness routine to stay in shape.” Also, it helps to have a good sense of what is funny and makes the public smile, while maintaining a performance which is appropriate. Comedy is not easy.

“It’s an alter-ego thing for me,” he said. “It brings out the other side of me. If I did the same things without a costume giving me anonymity, people would think I’m an idiot.” Although I’ve known him to be friendly and cooperative as an interview ever since his high school years, he says he is a shy person when he isn’t in costume.

His start as a mascot came when he was a summer intern for the Somerset Patriots minor league baseball team. He filled in for their dog-mascot Sparkee on several occasions and was an owl in some of their funny routines, learning the trade. He was chosen out of 40 persons who applied for that mascot role.

“Princeton contacted me about their mascot program,” he said. “They aim for it to be recognizable to the community. It is more than just entertainment at the football games. They have representation at a variety of community events and the staff is fantastic. They want the students to connect with the community and be involved citizens and the staff will do whatever it takes to succeed.”

Wiseburn, who now has added networking to his mascot skill sets, is reaching out to NFL mascots for a fun event in October. Some major league baseball and big time college mascots are getting invites, too.

As a collegian, Wiseburn wrestled for Carson-Newman College in Tennessee. Since then he has kept his passion for the sport and enjoys coaching, even going out of state when learning of openings at high quality high school programs in Maryland and Massachusetts.

Since September of last year, he’s been making his living as a physical education teacher at the Lawrence Township Public Schools in Mercer County. He worked as a behavior teaching assistant in Lopatcong in 2012 and 2013.

For three super successful seasons, he served as an assistant varsity wrestling coach for highly respected Andy Fitz at Delaware Valley. The Terriers won three straight sectional titles from 2015 to 2017, and a Group 2 state championship in 2017.

Wiseburn has also coached other sports. At Easton, Pa., he was an assistant field hockey coach for the Red Rovers. He’s also been a varsity assistant and head junior varsity coach in field hockey at Delaware Valley and his alma mater Warren Hills, and was part of the Blue Streaks’ 2016 state championship journey. Also, he worked as athletic director in suburban Baltimore, while also coaching cross country and track, in addition to wrestling.

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.