Strolling around the Berylson Field at Grove Street during halftime, Bucky the Knight lifted his shield into the air with pride. His cape flowed behind him as he walked, and his polished, silver armor gleamed under the lights at Varsity Football’s Homecoming game. Students left the bleachers to crowd around the edge of the field, vying for a signature Bucky high-five.
Since the 1974 merger of the Browne & Nichols and Buckingham schools, the Knight has served as the school’s mascot. But who is behind the mask? Now, The Vanguard has an answer: the Bucky Squad.
With the help of Middle School (MS) and Upper School Associate Director of Admissions Ryan Glennon, Presley Jacobson ’25 and Lexi Mack ’26 founded the Bucky Squad this summer to organize who would don the Bucky suit. Currently, the Bucky Squad includes eight to 10 students who take turns wearing the knight suit for school events.
Mr. Glennon encourages students to join the Squad to spread Bucky’s spirit, he said.
“Bucky brings energy, spirit, and recognition wherever they go: the fields, courts, ice, river, admissions/alumni events, and even throughout the Quiz Bowl team’s multiple-season run on WGBH’s high school competition,” he said. “The more we can formalize and encourage students to want to be a part of the Bucky Squad, the more we will see Bucky around campus bringing joy to Lower Schoolers at the Circus, energy and passion to Middle and Upper School athletics contests beyond that of just Homecoming, and most importantly, a sense of connection and pride for past, current, and future Knights to come.”
Presley said the Bucky Squad recruited its members through emails, their stand at the annual club fair, and posters around school. The Squad hopes to boost spirit by augmenting Bucky’s presence at different events, she said.
“The goal of the Bucky Squad is to increase Bucky’s presence, a presence of school spirit not just at sports events like Homecoming and football games, but also at admissions events and arts events.”
Bucky embodies the school’s mission while creating excitement for students and families, she said.
“When we had Bucky at Homecoming, a bunch of kids and even the high schoolers were excited and running around. When there’s a vibe of excitement, people are more excited to support the games. And we also think where Bucky goes, people go.”
Despite warning that the costume is sweltering and stuffy, Presley said she enjoys fostering enthusiasm as Bucky and plans to suit up again this year.
“The suit is really hot and smelly, but it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “You have all these kids running up to you, and they’re so excited to see you. They want hugs and pictures, and they want to sword fight you. It’s just really exciting to get to generate the spirit.”
For Lexi, who co-founded the Bucky Squad with Presley, Bucky’s presence at events could heighten school spirit, she said.
“I think our school spirit could definitely be better, but I also think we’re very spirited when we show up for school at games and other events,” she said. “He’s reserved for open houses and other events, and he can show up to any school event and be associated with the spirit of the school and not just athletics.”
The challenges of being Bucky include a lack of balance, vision, and mobility as well as the scorching temperature inside the suit, Lexi said.
“The Bucky suit is top-heavy, and you need a lot of people to help you be in it. We have to have at least one or two more people who can change into the Bucky costume if the other person in the Bucky costume gets really hot and also help guide them around because you can’t see a lot out of that helmet.”
For those aspiring to be Bucky, there are no specific requirements other than truly embracing the mascot’s persona, she said.
“I think you need to be ready to embody the character, and you can’t really be shy about it,” she said. “When you’re Bucky, you have to embody what you think a mascot would be.”
The Bucky Squad plans for Bucky to be present this year at the MS Sports Fest, the Admissions Open House, HacKnight, the school’s Debate Tournament, and the Lower School Open House.
