Being Illinois State University’s No. 1 fan is a lot of work. Luckily, Reggie Redbird has some help. While other bird mascots appeared on Illinois State’s campus as early as the 1950s, it wasn’t until 1981 that the modern mascot was born—and named. Since then, scores of students have had the opportunity to bring Reggie Redbird to life. Illinois State’s beloved mascot appears at hundreds of events each year—athletic contests, parades, community events, weddings, and more. Heck, sometimes you’ll find him just hanging out on the Quad. It’s a job too big for just one bird. So, we asked some of Reggie’s friends: What’s it like?
How did you land the job?
Al Lagger ’87: “My parents came to a football game, and my mother told me she thought I’d make a great Reggie. Without her knowing, I went to a tryout. There were close to 100 people there, each of us had a number, and we all had a minute-and-a-half to impress a table of judges as they played “Jump” by Van Halen. At the end, they came out and called three numbers, and mine was one of them.”
Appears InMackenzie Riechers ’18: “I was an athlete in high school and missed playing sports. I went to every ISU sporting event and would often catch myself looking for Reggie in the crowd—I loved his energy and personality. I eventually saw a flyer for tryouts, and along with my mom’s encouragement, I convinced myself to do it.”
Adam Spychala ’15: “My freshman year, I went to a football game and spent most of it watching Reggie. I turned to my friend and said, ‘How do I get that job?’”
Matt Kingsteck ’13, M.S. ’15: “I made a bet with a classmate that if she tried out for cheerleading, I’d try out to be Reggie.”
Terrence L. Mayfield Jr. ’23: “I opened my email one day to see a subject line of ‘Do you want to be Reggie Redbird?’ I said, ‘Why not?’”
Isaac Soares ’20: “I tried out on a whim. Little did I know that moment would jump-start my career in sports.”
Patrick Sobrino ’17: “I had to dance and perform a few popular songs in my audition—all with the Reggie feet and head on. The real test was racing a tricycle with the feet on.”
Justin McGetrick ’12: “Funny enough, I started as a mascot for another team in town as a part-time summer gig. I worked with others from the ISU Athletics Department, and they encouraged me to try out for Reggie.”
Tim Pantaleone ’07: “As a high school mascot, I was getting recruited, and I chose ISU because it was the best fit for me. I essentially became a full-time Reggie as a freshman.”
Erin (Herbert) Beshoar ’11: “Friends of mine knew the Reggie when they went to school, Tim Pantaleone. I got in touch with him to get more information about it, and the rest is history.”
What was your first performance like?
Mayfield: “My first event was a kid’s birthday party, and the parents had a Reggie shrine in their basement—toys, framed pictures, and various other Reggie-themed items inside a class case—which was weird. The kids loved having Reggie at the party, but I think the parents loved it more.”
Sobrino: “As a new Reggie, your first year is being a handler and performing at off-campus events. My first was at an elementary school. I wasn’t nervous about performing but was nervous about possibly talking on accident.”
McGetrick: “I had been to the arena many times, but it was odd to go there to be part of the game. I still remember the emotions as I went out as Reggie the first time.”
Soares: “I was given zero details beyond that I was filming something. Little did I know, my first experience was filming a commercial, and my co-star was President Larry Dietz. I was so nervous!”
Kingsteck: “I had no idea what I was doing, and my head nearly came off twice. It was a nervous experience, for sure, but one that started my journey.”
Pantaleone: “Mine was in front of all Redbird athletes, coaches, and administrators at the Walk of Champions. It offered a unique view of our amazing Redbirds—from legendary coaches like Melinda Fischer and Linda Herman to standout athletes like Boomer Grigsby.”
Lagger: “I worked a fundraiser where students gathered pledges for the number of laps they went around the football field. I ended up meeting my future wife there.”
What’s the toughest part of the job?
Riechers: “At first, it’s getting used to the feet and the head. Reggie’s feet are so large, it’s easy to trip if you don’t have the walk mastered. And you see out of Reggie’s eyes, so you can’t see straight ahead. That’s why Reggie always looks like he’s on a mission when he’s walking—it’s because he moves his head back and forth to see where he’s going.”
Beshoar: “There are many challenges! Limited vision, walking the arena stairs, and not talking are just a few.”
Kingsteck: “The head is the most challenging part by a mile. When I started, there wasn’t a chin strap in some of the heads, so you were really banking on gravity to help keep you whole.”
Spychala: “The hardest days were football games in the early fall, wearing a 30-pound suit on 90-degree days.”
Lagger: “You needed to drink plenty of water because you would sweat so much inside the suit.”
Pantaleone: “It was common to finish an early-season football game many pounds lighter than you started.”
Did anything ever go wrong?
Soares: “All the time. Being adaptable and flexible in those situations can turn an OK performer into a great performer.”
Beshoar: “I tripped over the Victory Bell at a football game and Reggie’s head came off enough where I could see sunlight.”
Kingsteck: “My head popped off twice but thankfully never in front of a big crowd. I lost a foot here and there.”
Mayfield: “A football player chest-bumped my head off the suit, which would have been fine if it wasn’t on the 50-yard-line at Hancock Stadium with hundreds of people watching.”
Spychala: “I still have a recurring dream—a nightmare, really—of looking over the railing in the arena and my head falling off.”
What was it like keeping it a secret?
Lagger: “The only people who knew were my roommates, and that was because I had the costume in our apartment. I didn’t let my mom know I got the Reggie role until I surprised her at the Parents’ Day football game.”
Beshoar: “I had three roommates at the time who knew, but no one else did. It felt like I had a double life.”
McGetrick: “I remember being on the Quad and seeing friends or classmates, and they had no idea!”
Soares: “Being anonymous was key. I would have never done half the things I did if everyone knew who I was.”
Sobrino: “It was funny telling my friends after graduation what my ‘marketing internship’ really was.”
Did you ever get to perform away from campus?
Riechers: “Yes! My favorites were kids’ events—elementary schools, birthday parties, parades, Reggie’s Kids Club—and my favorite part of those was trying to make every kid feel loved and seen by Reggie, and making the scared ones comfortable by getting on their level and letting them approach Reggie when they were ready.”
Sobrino: “For those quick off-campus events, we’d dress at the arena and drive to the event, and being in the passenger seat as Reggie was quite the experience! Seeing people freak out when they noticed Reggie was in the car next to them was awesome.”
McGetrick: “The one that stands out was going to celebrate (Chicago White Sox mascot) Southpaw’s birthday. Having grown up a Sox fan, it was an incredible experience. What also made it special was it was the only time my dad saw me perform as Reggie.”
Spychala: “I attended a private wedding where I knocked a beer out of someone’s hand as I tore up the dance floor. Whoops!”
Pantaleone: “I was Reggie at the wedding of a former Reggie, which came full circle when my friends surprised us with a Reggie visit at our wedding.”
What were your favorite fan interactions?
Sobrino: “Kids love Reggie and are extremely excited when they see him. Even adults can’t help but give a high-five, hug, or get a picture with Reggie.”
Mayfield: “I once was able to high-five a kid who was completely terrified of me. It took 15 minutes, but I wasn’t giving up! Then he followed me around the entire game.”
Beshoar: “There are some kids who aren’t sure about Reggie when they first meet him. But over time, you see kids get over their fear of Reggie and realize he’s not so scary.”
McGetrick: “At women’s basketball games, the same little girl would always draw a picture for Reggie. It always brought her so much joy seeing Reggie ecstatic over receiving it. One game, she wasn’t having the best day, so I started coloring with her courtside. She was over the moon! I remember her saying she couldn’t wait to come to ISU and be a Redbird.”
Kingsteck: “There were few appearances more fulfilling than visiting a children’s hospital, being able to bring a fun distraction to those kids and their families who were going through so much.”
Pantaleone: “Putting smiles on the faces of fans and energizing crowds are the best parts of the role. You have an opportunity to bring positive energy to moments—from a one-on-one with a sick kid to generating energy from thousands of fans.”
What was your proudest moment?
Spychala: “I’ll remember the adrenaline rush as I waved the flag at center court, the excitement riding out on the bell wagon, and the thrill as hundreds of my peers copied my roller coaster movements in the student section.”
Pantaleone: “My proudest moments were performances with Redbird cheerleading, Redline Express, and Redbird bands. They showed a lot of patience when Reggie needed to learn routines and stunts.”
Riechers: “My favorite moment was my last basketball game. I did a halftime performance with the dance team. My parents came to watch, and by that time I had approval to let my friends know I was Reggie so they could come watch.
Sobrino: “Starting the Reggie drumline routine was definitely my proudest moment.”
Soares: “I was originally in Pep Band and Big Red Marching Machine, so I made sure Reggie played the drums whenever he could.”
Kingsteck: “I was fortunate during my time the University started a scholarship. Being able to provide some relief to my parents, who were generously covering the cost of my education, was a good feeling.”
McGetrick: “I joke about being a Division I athlete, but being able to turn a pastime into a scholarship is one of my proudest moments.”
What’s the best part of the job?
Beshoar: “All of it! Doing community events and performing at games, working with the cheer team, seeing all the kids—I would not change it for the world.”
Riechers: “Putting smiles on faces and getting creative to bring to life Reggie’s personality were the best parts.”
Pantaleone: “For me, it was being a part of the Redbird family and getting to interact with a wonderful cross section of students, faculty, staff, alumni, and fans. It’s a role that engrains you in the culture and fabric of the University. Illinois State is such a special place, and it has continued to be a major part of my life.”
Sobrino: “When you think of Blo-No, you think of ISU. And when you think of ISU, you think of Reggie. It was a privilege to wear the suit.”
Did you learn anything?
Spychala: “I could walk up to anyone and have a positive, playful, and exhilarating interaction as Reggie. It’s hard to express the boost to my self-esteem that I truly needed at that time in my life. Becoming Reggie Redbird was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”
Pantaleone: “For me, it was the power of listening and nonverbal communication.”
Kingsteck: “When an opportunity presents itself, put all you can into it and take it.”
Lagger: “Kindness and understanding go a long way.”
Soares: “I learned the importance of time management and how hard work can pay off.”
Mayfield: “I had to learn how to collaborate with a team of people. Since you’re all presenting one character, communication and collaboration is crucial.”
Riechers: “My Reggie experience is on my resume. I learned interpersonal skills, empathy, creativity, spontaneity, resilience, endurance, commitment, teamwork, and so many
other skills.”
Did the experience open any doors?
Riechers: “I spoke about my experience when interviewing for jobs coming out of college. Folks were always curious and bringing it up was often an icebreaker during interviews.”
Soares: “Because of my experience, I’ve been able to work in professional sports the past two-plus years.”
Kingsteck: “The Reggie position kicked off a mascot career for me. I performed for the Chicago Fire and Chicago White Sox, and then three seasons for the Hiroshima Carp in Japan.”
Mayfield: “I have contacts with the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs. I’ve networked with previous Reggies, who have set up some possible job opportunities.”
Spychala: “It helped me become who I am today. I learned it isn’t hard to take off that mask and interact with others in fun and playful ways without feeling embarrassed. Life is too short to be worried about how you look or how you act when others are watching, and I found I could be confident in my everyday life without wearing that mask.”
Reggie’s roster
Erin (Herbert) Beshoar ’11
Years in the role: 2008-11
Major: Information systems
Residence: Wentzville, Missouri
Occupation: Help desk senior representative
Matt Kingsteck ’13, M.S. ’15
Years in the role: 2010-13
Major: Marketing communications, sport management
Residence: Antioch
Occupation: Strategic customer success manager
Al Lagger ’87
Years in the role: 1983-85
Major: Education
Residence: Aurora
Occupation: Retired teacher, volleyball official
Terrence L. Mayfield Jr. ’23
Years in the role: 2020-23
Major: Acting, theatre teacher education
Residence: Richton Park
Occupation: Recent graduate
Justin McGetrick ’12
Years in the role: 2010-12
Major: Actuarial science
Residence: Troy, Michigan
Occupation: Assistant vice president actuarial
Tim Pantaleone ’07
Years in the role: 2003-07
Major: Finance
Residence: Bloomington
Occupation: Audit investigator
Mackenzie Riechers ’18
Years in the role: 2015-18
Major: Marketing and sales
Residence: Chicago
Occupation: Account executive
Isaac Soares ’20
Years in the role: 2018-20
Major: Music business
Residence: Austin, Texas
Occupation: Entertainment coordinator
Patrick Sobrino ’17
Years in the role: 2014-17
Major: Safety
Residence: Vista, California
Occupation: Safety manager
Adam Spychala ’15
Years in the role: 2012-15
Major: Renewable energy
Residence: Delavan, Wisconsin
Occupation: Electrical controls engineer
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