Dillon now pro mascot as ‘Rascal’

Many high school student-athletes dream of competing at the next level. Quinn Dillon had planned to follow the same game plan and, in fact, landed a prominent role in a Division III college program.

But now, less than a year removed from graduation day at Dexter Regional high School, Dillon also has gone pro.

Dillon, perhaps better known around Eastern Maine basketball circles for the last four years as the Dexter Tiger mascot, is now a freshman business major at Messiah College in Grantham, Pa.

He’s also Fandango the Falcon, the school’s mascot that performs at Messiah men’s and women’s basketball home games involving Middle Atlantic Conference opponents, as well as at alumni events and for the Special Olympics.

“Everyone’s received me really well,” Dillon said. “Even the president of the college personally thanked me after one of the games.”

Fandango’s on-court antics are slightly more structured than the Dexter Tiger’s.

“In high school I pretty much made things up on my own, except the Maine Principals’ Association had a big say in what I did during the tournament,” said Dillon, an Exeter native. “In college there are a few more rules. I can’t mess with the refs as much.”

And while basketball season is long over at Messiah, Dillon’s mascot work continues.

Through his work as Fandango, he has been hired as Rascal, one of two mascots for the Harrisburg (Pa.) Senators, the Class AA affiliate of the Washington Nationals.

He’s now in the same league – the Eastern League – as Slugger the Sea Dog.

“I wasn’t planning on anything like this, but one of the guys who did radio at the Messiah games is also part of the Harrisburg Senators broadcast team, and he suggested I look into it,” said Dillon.

Dillon will work approximately 70 home games for Harrisburg – located less than 20 miles from the Messiah campus – in conjunction with the team’s other mascot, Grrrrounder.

“What we do with the Senators is a lot more scripted,” Dillon said. “There’s a lot of interacting with the fans, and different contests we have between innings.”

Dillon said work with the Senators did require a mascotorial adjustment, given that the former golf, tennis, soccer and basketball player at Dexter had never worked a baseball game before landing the job.

“It’s definitely different because of the pace of the game and the breaks between innings,” he said.

Dillon was presented a unique challenge earlier this spring, the chance to work as both of his alter egos at the same event. The Senators sponsored a Messiah College promotion at one of their games, and Fandango had a prominent role.

“I got into the Fandango costume, went out and threw the first pitch, then went back and changed back into Rascal as quick as I could,” said Dillon. “I had some help taking off the Fandango costume, so I was able to get back out there as Rascal pretty quickly.”

Dillon had planned to return to Maine for the summer, but now he will stay on campus as he works for both the college and for the Senators.

He plans to continue tripling as himself, Fandango and Rascal for the foreseeable future, and then who knows?

The Philly Phanatic had better watch out.

“I didn’t go to college just to be a mascot,” said Dillon. “But things have opened up on their own, and it’s definitely something I’m open to.

“It’s probably my favorite job I’ve ever had.”

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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