A behind-the-scenes look at the scariest mascot in the country, from Sleepy Hollow High in New York.
Three-hundred and sixty-four days out of the year, Pock is a normal, 14-year old male horse owned by John Catalfumo, a public school teacher in Yonkers, N.Y.
But on homecoming night at
Sleepy Hollow (N.Y.), Pock and Catalfumo combine to form the scariest mascot in the country.
The duo comprise the Headless Horseman, the long-time Sleepy Hollow mascot.
Though the local high school has long held the name, the town of Sleepy Hollow only came into being in 1996, after residents of North Tarrytown voted to change the town's name.
"Sleepy Hollow" evokes Washington Irving's famous short story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" about a 18th century Dutch settlement haunted by a headless horseman.
Rui Rocha, the school's head custodian who helps prepare for homecoming night, said that the mascot draws big crowds.
"Every homecoming, he runs with the football team," Rocha said. "He runs around the field before the game and at halftime. That attracts a lot of people."
Pock and Catalfumo have served as the headless horseman for approximately eight years, according to Rocha. Previously, a white horse with a different owner played the part.
Sleepy Hollow gave MaxPreps behind-the-scenes access to document its one-of-a-kind mascot
