Monzee the mascot is just as much a part of the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic netball team as the players.
But Abbey Yule from Tauranga, the face behind Monzee, will resign after the Netball ANZ Championships grand finals this weekend.
Abbey, who has filled the oversized shoes of Monzee since 2008,
says the time has come to give the character a fresh start and let someone else have a go.
She has decided to put her focus and time into her contemporary arts studies at Auckland Unitec.
Abbey said while working with the Magic, Monzee had become a big part of her life.
"Monzee is now like another me, so I will definitely miss Monzee. Letting it go will be quite emotional I imagine."
But she said it was not only the mascot experience she would miss.
"I will miss everything about this job, the staff and the players here are all amazing people to work with. It is always a lot of fun."
Abbey first started as Monzee after being noticed by the staff for her "out there and vibrant personality".
"Monzee is there to keep the crowd entertained and make sure they are having a good time and everyone is involved. I am there when the supporters arrive at the doors so everyone can see me and interact with me," she said.
"I like being able to be that happy kind of person who makes everyone else happy."
This weekend, she will head off to Adelaide for the Magic's grand final game against the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic marketing manager Chris Buckley said Abbey would be greatly missed.
"Abbey is really awesome and has a wide appeal to a number of supporters who come to the games.
"We now have a fan club for supporters of the Magic and Abbey has been a big part of that. She is a symbol for what we stand for," Ms Buckley said.
