She takes a deep breath, picks up her eagle head, and puts on the final piece of her costume. As she steps onto the field, she looks around at the thousands of people watching in the stands. When junior Savannah Warrington, also known as Blu the Eagle, begins to perform her pregame routine alongside all the other mascots, she knows all of her hard work leading up to this moment had paid off.

Warrington traveled to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida to perform during pregame of the Kentucky/Iowa State game along with other All-American mascots from around the country. 

“During pregame we suited up and when we got out there on the field, the nerves and sweat were overwhelming,” Warrington said. “It was nerve-wracking. 50,000 people were up in the bleachers so we went out there and put on the best five minute show we could.”

Tryouts for All-American mascots were the last day of the cheer camp at the Gaylord in Dallas this past summer. Warrington and other members of the cheer program attended camp to learn new routines and techniques.

“The first time I saw Savannah perform at mascot tryouts I knew she was very talented and could easily secure the title as an All-American Mascot,” cheer coach Christy Bateman said. “The first year she was mascot, Covid prevented us from traveling to cheer mascot summer camp. This summer our team was able to attend camp, and I knew she had a great opportunity to earn the All-American title.”

For the Citrus bowl, cheerleaders and mascots from around the country came together to learn separate routines. The cheerleaders performed a dance and the mascots performed a skit that they learned the week of the game.

“We split up cheerleaders and mascots and spent a lot of time learning a routine once we arrived in Orlando,” Warrington said. “I was so hot and sweaty. It does not feel like December right now in Florida.”

Warrington and her family put together a fundraiser in order to earn enough money to travel to Orlando. They sold car decals with the school logo and her face on them.

“We raised enough money to send me, but not my whole family,” Warrington said. “Luckily, we were able to put together the money we needed for my whole family to have a really good time in Florida.”

Warrington and her family stayed at Universal Orlando Resort and she went to practice every day leading up to the performance. Her family spent a few days in Florida and the game took place on New Year’s Day.

“I got to meet mascots from Iowa, Alabama, around the Corpus Christi area, and all over America,” Warrington said. “Making friends from these different places and to see what it’s been like for them – it’s pretty cool.”

Warrington has been Blu the Eagle since her sophomore year. This was her first year winning the All American title.

“Savannah is a great role model and she assumes her role as Blu the Eagle very seriously,” Bateman said. “I feel she has gained self confidence and the spirit of leading a crowd to support the Eagles.”