Cameron completes career as a panther

Milton High School’s current panther will be retiring, or rather, graduating. Senior Cameron Crites has been dressing up as Milton’s panther mascot for three years.  

Cheerleading Coach Traci Ferguson said that she chose Cameron because of his outgoing personality. She added she knew he would do well with the fans. 

According to Cameron, she offered him a chance to be the mascot while his sister, 2019 Graduate Elizabeth Crites, was a cheerleader. 

“Cameron is an exceptional young man, and I have no doubt that he will be successful in all his future endeavors,” Coach Ferguson said.  

Cameron said he has enjoyed interacting with kids as the panther. “Everybody loves you; people are just walking up to you,” he said.  

Cameron also said that people try to lift his mask and get close to him. To prevent this, he said he extends his arms so they can’t reach his head. He added that his height and lengthy arms has helped with this.  In the past Cameron said that people have even tried to fight him.  

He said the only rule is that he has to keep the head on, and he is allowed to get into games for free. 

Cameron said the best thing about being the panther is getting the privilege of wearing the panther suit at cold football games. In contrast, he added the worst thing is the first few games when it’s still hot outside. “You could fill a bucket with the sweat from the suit,” he said. 

Cameron’s favorite memory as the panther is when he had a “super dramatic” rock-paper-scissors battle with Mifflinburg’s mascot.  

 Cameron said his years of being the panther have taught him to be patient. The kids get scared of the panther because of its size, so he said has learned to be patient. He added that this patience is applicable elsewhere.  

Cameron said he plans to attend Kutztown University to major in Physics and Mathematics for Secondary Education with a minor in music. He added that he would consider being a college mascot.  

 Cameron’s advice to future panthers is to be friendly and have fun: “Get in the stands with the spectators and make them smile.”  

Coach Ferguson added that the next panther has been decided, but their identity is not yet being revealed.