Voeks tradition lives on at Batavia

Week 1 of the high school football season is always an exciting thing -- not just for players and coaches, but parents, fans and yes, even reporters.

But what about mascots? Don't they get excited for the crowds, the hype and fun of Friday -- and sometimes, Saturday -- nights? Batavia's mascot, the Bulldog, sure does.

Senior Mike Voeks was the boy in the bulldog last year, and will be again this year. I decided to follow him around for Batavia's first game of the season against St. Charles East Saturday.

Even though the results were not in the Bulldogs' favor -- the Saints beat them 30-7 in Batavia -- it was business as usual for Voeks as the Bulldog.

Looking for Mike Voeks at a Batavia football game? The senior won't be one of the many fans cheering in the crowd. If you are looking for Voeks among the other people in the stands, you probably won't find him easily.

You will have a better chance finding Voeks dressed as a huge bulldog, as he is in his second year as the school's mascot.

Voeks was the bulldog throughout Batavia's run in the playoffs last year. He was present for all the games, including the team's appearance in the state finals in Champaign.

"Last year was big," he said. "We did our best and had a great lineup. Hopefully, we'll get a good start this year. We'll see how it goes."

So far on this Saturday night (after major storms on Thursday wiped out the majority of football games Friday), it's not going too hot for the Bulldogs against St. Charles East.

It's halftime of the Saints/Bulldogs game, and the guests are up 20-0. Voeks spent the first half of the game working the Batavia side of the fence, giving waves and handshakes to kids and, early on, getting the crowd fired up.

He made his entrance with the cheerleaders and raised his arms to Batavia's student section with a red flag with a paw print on it.

The Bulldog is gray, has blue eyes, a black collar and is very tall. Voeks is 6-foot-4 without the costume, so it fits him just right. He is wearing a jersey with No. 75 on it.

Voeks is aware of what is going on during the game, but his No. 1 priority is entertaining the fans.

Being a mascot takes patience, team spirit, a tolerance for heat and most of all, the ability not to reveal your identity.

"Sometimes, it's really hard not to talk, especially with the little kids who are pulling my tail," Voeks said. "You want to say, 'Stop,' but you can't."

Voeks takes a break from mascot mode, as he downs two bottles of water in less than a few minutes. He is headless and sitting up against an ambulance, out of plain view from any kids seeing a mascot body with a human head.

It gets hot in that costume, according the Voeks. Most of the time, he needs a vest that has a built-in icepack attached to it.

"I didn't have it last year at the homecoming parade, and I was dying," Voeks said.

Voeks usually works both the sophomore and varsity levels in both basketball and football games. He prepares by stretching, running on the track and keeping hydrated.

Not too many bad things have happened since he took over mascot duties last year after his brother, Nick, was the mascot previously.

"I've knocked a kid over once, and one of the Wild Bunch kids pulled my head off underneath the bleachers, but nothing else bad," he said.

As a mascot, you have to take some risks too -- even if it involves the opposing team. In the first half, Voeks avoided the Saints' side of the bleachers, but well into the third quarter, even as St. Charles East led 23-0, he headed over there with his Batavia flag.

A painted Saints fan wearing black shorts countered with a flag. Shortly after that, three flags were waving on the St. Charles East side.

By 9:35 p.m., the Saints are winning 30-0 with 8:07 left in the game. Voeks is now himself again in a black backward hat and black polo shirt. He is out of the bulldog costume, which is tucked away in a royal blue bag.

If the score was a lot closer, Voeks would still be in the costume. He admitted it's a challenge to get the crowd into a game where the Bulldogs are losing.

"It's definitely tough," he said.

Batavia managed to score with 1:06 remaining in the game, but the Saints won 30-7. It was the first time the Bulldogs lost a season-opening game since 2003.

Win or lose, Voeks will be back for every Batavia game for the rest of the season.