‘Tigo’ moving on to become new mascot at Texas State University

Saturday, 09 June 2012 by Keith Bahlmann

Belton High School senior Autumn Anson, known better as BHS’s mascot “Tigo,” was recently named as Texas State University’s mascot “Boko.”Belton High School senior Autumn Anson is taking her talents to San Marcos next year.

Although some my not recognize her name, every spectator at any BHS sporting event always knew where she was.

During her senior year Anson played the part of BHS's mascot "Tigo," and as a freshman next year at Texas State University she will again be the center of attention as the Bobcats' mascot "Boko."

Despite being involved in other activities during her high school career, Anson said she fell in love with playing the part of Tigo and wanted to continue after high school.

"I started off this year becoming the Belton High School mascot and I just fell in love with it," Anson said. "It was so much fun pumping up the crowd and seeing how much you can impact the crowd just by doing a cartwheel or a cheer."

Her "love" eventually led her to tryout for the part of "Boko."

"I didn't want it to stop and I wanted to continue in college. I saw that they were doing mascot tryouts," Anson said. "They saw my video of me having a dance off with the Dallas Cowboys mascot and they really wanted me to tryout."

With the help of her video and a two-minute skit during tryouts, Anson was named as the new "Boko" for Texas State, who recently made the jump to Division I athletics and built a new football stadium.

"I was so excited because I am going to be a college mascot," Anson said. "I was overwhelmed with excitement."

BHS Cheerleader Sponsor Elayne Kaufman said playing Tigo isn't always an easy job.

"The mascot is always an interesting position because they are an individual," Kaufman said. "What they learn at camp and how they develop it is entirely up to them.

"She's a quiet, sweet, little girl and I had thought there was no way (she would be Tigo), but she took it and ran with it. She was the best one I've had in 16 years."

BHS principal Kathy Cook said Anson has left some large paw prints to follow in.

"Autumn has been a fabulous Tigo. She's kept the energy up at every sporting event. The pep rally's couldn't have been the same without her," Cook said. "I've never seen such a flexible and energetic Tigo from the beginning of an event to the end of an event. It's like she never ran out of gas."

At Texas State, Anson plans on majoring in Psychology and is excited about becoming "Boko."

"I'm going to get to travel all over the country, which is really exciting," Anson said.

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