Being Chesty is an interesting experience. It is fun to be Chesty during a game and mess with people as well as have a good laugh with them.

It’s all in good fun. I have one-sided conversations with parents, coaches and spectators. I high-five kids and hug others. But whatever the occasion, I always get asked the same question: “What’s wrong with your eye, Chesty?”

I can’t really answer the question while I am in the suit, so I either shrug and walk away or I pretend I didn’t know that there is a hole in my eye and I make a scene about it for comedy. My favorite is when I flap my arms, make fists and people respond “You got in a fight with Freddy?”

Since I began wearing the suit my sophomore year, I have struggled to keep it together and ready to keep the student section entertained. It has been worn out from time and mistreatment over the past decade.

It is about time we invest in a new Chesty suit.

For starters, the suit is more than a decade old. The school purchased the costume in 2004, and many students have worn it since. Compared to the amount of money that is spent on other spirit uniforms and equipment, it seems that one of the biggest symbols of school spirit has been left out.

The suit is ripped in multiple places. I constantly need to sew parts of it back on. His tail is barely hanging on, his left eye has a humongous hole in it, and his feet are torn up terribly.

Why has a school with so much pride in tradition let their mascot fall into disrepair? Especially when the Lion itself is an important part of school history.

The Chesty Lion was created in 1946 by Paul Coker Jr., who is also known for creating the iconic cartoon character Frosty the Snowman. It has been utilized and tailored to many activities and academic departments throughout the years.

Chesty can be seen around the school wearing a football helmet, with a soccer ball, in a business suit and in a marching uniform. He is used to represent students from different places with different interests.

Although LHS has many unique traditions, from mud volleyball, to senior week, to the pink out game, Chesty is what ties it all together. Chesty is a symbol of the school.

So why would we let Chesty — the visual representation of LHS — look shabby?

The LHS community is proud of its traditions and accomplishments, which should be represented in the mascot seen wandering around the field, court, pool or wherever he dwells.