The man behind the mask has been a mystery for South students since 1963. Though Tommy the Titan may just be a costume to some, the beating heart controlling his polyester limbs consistently spreads life to all of South, Dr. Mark Maranto, Assistant Principal of Student Activities, said.
In 1963, South was declared the Titans to rival North’s mascot, the Spartans. The Greek warriors reflect the passion of the two schools’ rivalry, causing school spirit to flourish during South vs. North football games and Gold Rush week, where the schools compete to raise money for pediatric cancer, Maranto said.
Tommy made his debut at South sport games, yet his role has greatly increased since the technology takeover of the modern world, Maranto said. Variety Show comedy skits and Advanced Television videos put Tommy on the big stage and classroom projectors, Maranto said.
“We’ve worked over the years to bring [Tommy] out [when] people don’t expect to see him,” Maranto said.
Tommy’s physical appearance underwent a drastic change in 2023, when Maranto decided the 25-year-old costume’s sagging muscles no longer resembled a strong Greek warrior, Maranto said.
However, South students found it hard to let go of the traditional Tommy costume most of them had grown up with, senior Mel Rapciak, Titan Nation Vice President, said. Titan Nation is a South club dedicated to enhancing school spirit alongside Tommy.
“I think a lot of people were upset because it was a big change and people don’t like when things change,” Rapciak said. “[However], I like [the current] costume a lot more because it has cooler details and I like that he walks around with a lightning bolt now.”
Tommy has undergone many changes, with the most consistent one being the student who wears the mask. However, size, personality, and even mode of transportation have individualized the mascot throughout the 62 years he’s paraded the halls of South. Maranto recalls a time when one Tommy wowed the crowds on a hoverboard as he glided his way through stands of passionate students.
“[Tommy] would be cruising around the dome and people were really entertained by it,” Maranto said. “I want to work on incorporating Tommy into [assemblies this way] again.”
Titan Nation works as Tommy’s pit crew in between assemblies and during sports games, Rapciak said. They keep him hydrated and make sure he interacts equally with the audience, she explained.
“It’s fun to see the behind the scenes of Tommy the Titan,” Rapciak said. “That wasn’t something I thought [I could do] before Titan Nation.”
Maranto and the Student Activities Department have worked to weave Tommy into the everyday lives of South students. For example, Titan of the Month, introduced this 2024-2025 school year, is a way to display to students that they belong at South, Maranto explained. The winner is nominated by students and teachers to represent Titan pride and an award is handed to the student by none other than the mascot, Tommy, bringing him out of his usual scene and into the classroom.
Tommy works every day to represent the four pillars of South: respect, inclusivity, curiosity, and most notably pride, Rapciak said. Only the hard-working students embodying Tommy know what it feels like behind the mask, Tommy the Titan said. He explores new ways to connect with students each time the costume is on.
“You experience things through a whole different [lens],” Tommy said. “It’s fun to see different interactions between people. [I] want to be at [South], [I] want to be at games, [I] want to be hype.”
