Spirit in Action: Meet the Cooper Junior High Mascots

The Cooper Patriot mascots are a familiar sight at pep rallies, sporting events, and even the homecoming parade. Whether they’re dancing, handing out high-fives, or leading cheers, the mascots are always giving their all and spreading cheer at Cooper Junior High.

As the faces behind the Patriot mascots, eighth-graders Liam Lemons and Alexander Hern put lots of energy and excitement into their role at Cooper Junior High. These two are Proud to Be Wylie ISD, and it shows.

For Hern, the best part is the reaction from his peers.

“When I put on my mascot uniform, I was getting a bunch of fist bumps, high fives, all that. It’s really fun,” he said.

Lemons agreed, adding that the role is all about connection.

“You get to hype up the crowd and have fun with everybody,” he said.

Together, the two even created their own dance to, as Lemons put it, “get everybody loud and go crazy.”

But for both students, being the mascot is about more than just entertainment—it’s about representing their school with pride.

“I am proud to be a Cooper Patriot because I feel like I somewhat represent the school as a mascot, and I feel like what I do reflects what Cooper does,” Hern said.

Lemons echoed that pride.

“It’s just really fun,” he said. “I enjoy it so much.”

The supportive environment at Cooper adds to their school spirit.

“It’s just a great group, and I really like that,” Lemons said.

Hern pointed to the opportunities available, especially in the classes he enjoys most.

“The teachers are great, the environment is great, and there’s a lot of creativity with theatre and media tech,” he said.

Being part of Wylie ISD makes the experience even more meaningful.

“It’s just great because we get to have the opportunity that other kids might not be able to have, which I think is really special, and I think we’re super blessed,” Hern said.

When asked to describe Cooper’s spirit, Hern didn’t hesitate.

“Fun, hype, exciting—great to be around,” he said.

Lemons agreed that he said it perfectly.

“It definitely brings more spirit and gets people excited for pep rallies and games,” Hern said.

For Lemons and Hern, every fist bump, dance move, and cheer is a reminder of what it means to be Proud to Be Wylie ISD.