Veteran security guard represents school, community

Otis Lyons, Sports Editor

“Yeahhhhhhh.”

The deep, sonorous soundwaves drift through the halls, as students perk their ears. The students frolicking about turn to look, smiles lighting up their faces.

Out from around the corner emerges a tall man with corduroy pants and a New England Patriots lanyard, clashing with the Pats ensemble with an out of place New York Giants shirt.

A plethora of scarves surround his neck, and his right hand, balled in a fist, rests on top of his left, enticing would-be competitors to a game of Ro Sham Bo.

“I would say that I am 60 percent in Ro Sham Bo. I’m like the Ro Sham Bo king,” said Rich Blasewitz, the campus assistant here and bandwagon Patriots fan. “However, I am only 25 percent against Otis Lyons. He really brings my average down.”

Blasewitz’s activities, such as Ro Sham Bo, have lead his on campus presence to be an enjoyment for most of the student body and staff.

“What I like most about Rich is that he is a big teddy bear,” said Lena Herrera, Blasewitz’s coworker for 15 years here.

Blasewitz has prowled the halls for 20 years. In 1998, Pluto was a planet, and the football team was a playoff regular. Blasewitz has outlasted four principals since 1998.

Even though many things have changed, Blasewitz has remained a constant; whether he’s situated in his ‘cutty corner’ near the office at the end of the school day or impersonating a bird as he frolics in the hall, Blasewitz has given students moments to remember.

“Bandwagon (Rich) has one of the more exhilarating sets of eyewear that I have ever seen,” said junior Daniel Forrest, who can often be heard yelling ‘BANDWAGON’ throughout the corridors.

Outside of work, Blasewitz loves to take his Moots road bike out on the weekends.

“Rich’s Moots is a kick as bike,” said Blasewitz, who embodies the definition of a ‘weekend warrior’.

“Tom Brady is the best quarterback,” Blasewitz said. “It was a disappointing Super Bowl loss, but I’ve been a Patriots/Tom Brady fan since 2000. It’s been an honor to watch the best quarterback of all time be the best. Joe Montana is not the best quarterback anymore.”

If there is one thing that puts Blasewitz on his own level, it is his unique vocabulary.

“My five favorite words? Yeah, sure, whatever, yeah, yo what up, it’s all good, yeah,” said Blasewitz, listing off seven instead of five, some not even singular words.

Blasewitz’s five top words accurately depict his lovability on campus.

“Rich is in his own spot, he’s in his own zone,” Herrera said. “He’s a good guy, he’s nice, and he is good to talk to when there is an issue.”

While Blasewitz has been a staple of the school since before fears of Y2K, his time for retirement may come soon.

“Hopefully many more students can enjoy Rich’s vocabulary and iffy Ro Sham Bo skills for years to come,” junior Luke O’Heidhin said.

Even after he packs his bags in retirement, there will still be one word heard ominously in the halls, as if he never left.

“Yeahhhhhhhh.”