FILE PHOTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat Political science senior and former Zona Zookeeper Jered Mansell cheers on the men's basketball team in McKale Center in December 2002. Mansell will apply to be this years Zona Zookeeper after enjoying his stint last semester.

Zookeeper tryouts tonight at McKale

For those students who think painting themselves red and blue and jumping around for a few hours sounds like a good time, you might consider becoming a Zona Zookeeper.

ASUA, in conjunction with the UA athletics department, will hold tryouts for potential Zookeepers tonight from 8 p.m. - 10 p.m. on the Lute and Bobbi Olson Court at the McKale Center.

Two zookeepers will be chosen by a panel of representatives from ASUA and UA athletics to represent the UA at home basketball games.

The panel will judge students on their costume, school spirit and ability to get the crowd on their feet, said ASUA Spirit Director Peter Wand.

The zookeepers, modeled after UCLA's yell leaders, will be stationed behind each basket at UA home basketball games and will be in charge of keeping spirit high in the student section, Wand said.

Winners will be given a pass to all home games and $50 to spend on a costume, body paint and other spirit material.

Wand and assistant spirit director Amber Harryman will be judges in tonight's competition.

"Students will have five to 10 minutes to prove themselves and show their Wildcat spirit," said Harryman, who said that judges will be looking for a person who "loves UA basketball and gets students on their feet and excited about it."

ASUA President J.P. Benedict said that he will be on the sidelines watching the tryouts tonight and will look for students who are able to rally the support of fans and students.

"We'll be looking for people that are kind of wild and crazy," he said.

Zookeepers made their debut during the 2002-2003 basketball season.

Ten people tried out for the zookeeper position last year, Wand said.

"Our Zona Zookeepers did an awesome job last year," Harryman said, adding that she hopes the zookeepers become a UA tradition.

Jered Mansell, one of last year's zookeepers, said that his experience as a spirit leader was a positive one.

"It was fun," said Mansell, "just to run around and act stupid and get people excited about the game."

Mansell, a political science, sociology, economics and religion senior, added that being a zookeeper was a great way to relieve stress brought on by his four majors.

Mansell, who said he spent $150 on his costume, plans to try out again this year.