Reece Braswell ’26

In a true Cinderella story, Reece Braswell ’26 defeated the Texas Tech Red Raider in a dance-off for the ages. Yet, his talents were kept a secret for years as he remained in disguise as UNCW’s beloved mascot. 

Braswell is a graduating senior in communications studies from Clayton, North Carolina. Along with being goalie of the water polo team and pep band director, Braswell dons the teal feathers of Sammy C. Hawk. 

“It means the world to me to get to represent the university that I have been calling home for four years,” said Braswell. “I enjoy every second I get to go to a community event or a game and get to be myself and be the mascot for UNCW.”  

Within his communication studies, Braswell assisted with filming and editing two UNCW productions, The Current and Digital Drip. The former highlights members of the campus community and features interviews about their roles and accomplishments. The latter is a show that features local bands and musicians for interviews and live performances. Along with his studies, Braswell participates in several extracurricular activities, including being the goalie of the university’s water polo team. 

“Being on the team has been one of the best decisions I have made in college. It gave me a friend group where we can have fun but also improve as a team,” he said. 

Braswell is also the gameday director for the UNCW Pep Band, which performs at basketball sporting events. His role includes managing the music, leading rehearsals and coordinating when the band plays during games. 

“This experience has been amazing, and I cannot say enough good things about the pep band and where it’s going,” said Braswell. 
 
Directing the pep band isn’t the only thing Braswell does on the sidelines. Since his freshmen year of college, Braswell has been secretly performing as Sammy C. Hawk. 
 
“At first, I found it hard to keep my identity as Sammy a secret because when I was a freshman, and even as a sophomore, I was so excited with everything I was doing that I wanted to share it with everyone,” Braswell said. 

In his time as Sammy C. Hawk, Braswell attended the the UNCW March Madness night and the CAA Tournament in 2025. The men’s basketball team defeated Delaware for the CAA championship title and advanced to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2017. 

“It was a very memorable run with me beating Clyde the Cougar and the Texas Tech Red Raider in a dance battle both on the CAA stage and the March Madness stage,” Braswell said. “I was fueled on adrenaline every night during the game and was on the edge of my seat during the final game." 

Yet, the most impactful moments as Sammy were when Braswell could make a positive impact on the community around him. 

“I always try to bring a nice presence when I am in the suit and make sure to interact with everyone whether they are a UNCW fan or not. Always bringing a positive presence and seeing how people light up when they see me are very fond memories.”