Life as a Mountaineer - Towel Mascots and Hidden Talents
November 15, 2018 06:00 PM | Football
Mountaineer football has ways of tapping into the talents of just about everyone, including those in charge of housing the players the night before each home game.
This short story begins with a simple request from Robert Glowacky, West Virginia football's director of operations.
"Can a mascot be created before each home game to help the players get ready for their opponent the following day?" he asked the fine folks at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place.
Ivan Cano, the Marriott's convention services manager, immediately turned to executive housekeeper Kasey Sherwood for an answer.
This happened to be one guest request not included in the company manual.
"I had the great pleasure and the major luck of talking to Kasey immediately, 'Hey, I have this situation going on.' Lo and behold I really struck gold," Cano said. "I was wowed by how talented she was because the things I saw Kasey produce were absolutely amazing."
What began with a Youngstown State Penguin has now evolved into a mascot for every opponent West Virginia has faced this season – including the road foes. Sherwood said it takes about an hour for her to make each team mascot, which is placed on the bed of quarterback Will Grier before he enters his hotel room.
"We do a little research and look into what the mascot looks like, what their colors are, but overall it's been a lot of winging it," she admitted. "If I can see it in my head I can create it."
By the way, Ms. Sherwood's degree at Slippery Rock University was in psychology, which explains absolutely nothing (and probably everything) about her hidden talent.
"I didn't know it was a talent of mine either. All I did was say yes," she laughed.
This Life as a Mountaineer feature was produced by Sarah Ramundt, and is presented each week by Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.
This short story begins with a simple request from Robert Glowacky, West Virginia football's director of operations.
"Can a mascot be created before each home game to help the players get ready for their opponent the following day?" he asked the fine folks at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place.
Ivan Cano, the Marriott's convention services manager, immediately turned to executive housekeeper Kasey Sherwood for an answer.
This happened to be one guest request not included in the company manual.
"I had the great pleasure and the major luck of talking to Kasey immediately, 'Hey, I have this situation going on.' Lo and behold I really struck gold," Cano said. "I was wowed by how talented she was because the things I saw Kasey produce were absolutely amazing."
What began with a Youngstown State Penguin has now evolved into a mascot for every opponent West Virginia has faced this season – including the road foes. Sherwood said it takes about an hour for her to make each team mascot, which is placed on the bed of quarterback Will Grier before he enters his hotel room."We do a little research and look into what the mascot looks like, what their colors are, but overall it's been a lot of winging it," she admitted. "If I can see it in my head I can create it."
By the way, Ms. Sherwood's degree at Slippery Rock University was in psychology, which explains absolutely nothing (and probably everything) about her hidden talent.
"I didn't know it was a talent of mine either. All I did was say yes," she laughed.
This Life as a Mountaineer feature was produced by Sarah Ramundt, and is presented each week by Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration.
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