Recruits
If you're considering cheering at KU, then you're a "KU Cheer Recruit!" Hopefully this page will answer many of your questions. If you're not sold on KU yet, make sure you check out the Why KU section. If you'd like me to notify you about tryouts and clinics, see the Email Updates section below.
(Lake Forest, IL)
(Wichita)
(Kansas City)
(Great Bend, KS)
Cheer Athletics
(Dallas)
(Wichita)
(Coffeyville, KS)
East Elite
(Tewksbury, MA)
(Lawrence, KS)
Hutchinson Community College (KS)
(Lenexa, KS)
(Highlands Ranch, CO)
What we're about
We may have great cheerleading at KU, but we're not running a "cheer factory." I care about your education and your personal development because those are the main factors in how enjoyable and successful your life will be.
My vision for the squad is that we have fun together and encourage and support one another like family. We treat people how they want to be treated, and when conflicts arise we handle them with open honest communication. Regardless of our talent level, we steadily progress our skills and fitness level by working hard at practice and outside practice, and we go out of our way to help our teammates progress. At games, we believe we can help the team win by leading the crowd, and we'll do it better than anyone in the country. Off the court, we represent ourselves, the squad, and the university in a manner we can all be proud of. We attend all our classes and do the work the teacher asks, which leads to everyone graduating with at least a 3.0 GPA. And when it's time to have fun, we do it in a responsible manner so that it doesn't hurt our squad or our academics. We take pride in everything we do, and we're willing to work hard to make something to be proud of.
The following values define how we try to act in everything we do:
- Respect everyone
- Encourage each other
- Always learn
- Humble confidence
- Disciplined hard work
- See the 'Big Picture'
Benefits
In addition to getting one of the best educations in the midwest, living in an awesome college town, and cheering at the best college basketball games in the country, KU cheerleaders receive:
- $750/year stipend + $100 if 3.0 GPA
- $1000/year discount at Naismith Hall
- A bunch of free adidas apparel and shoes
- Two tickets to each home football game
- Uniforms and warm-ups provided by KU
- Per diems during travel to away games
- Access to KU Athletics' trainers, nutritionist, sport psychologist, weight room (one of the best in the country), and strength & conditioning staff
Get email updates!
If you're even slightly considering trying out at KU in the next few years (or you're a cheer coach who'd like to stay informed), please let me know! I'll keep you updated on KU tryouts and any clinics we have.
All you have to do is answer these 10 questions in an email to me at corey@kucheer.com (and I won't share your info with anyone):
- What's your name, address, and cellphone?
- Who do you cheer for?
- What year do you graduate high school? (Or if you already graduated, when might you try out for KU?)
- What unspotted standing tumbling do you have?
- What's your best unspotted tumbling pass? What about on a non-spring mat floor?
- What's your coed stunting experience? Best stunt?
- What's your height and weight?
- What colleges are you considering?
- How'd you hear KU cheerleading?
- What's your GPA and ACT score? Any ideas what you'll major in?
Facilities
We practice at Lawrence's newest cheer and power tumbling facility: G-Force Athletics. G-Force's equipment allows us to learn new skills quickly and safely on their all-star-size spring floor, rod floor, two trampolines, and video equipment.
Coaches
We have three coaches for about 30 cheerleaders. Coach bios are in the Roster section. We capitalize on the unique strengths of each coach to best help our cheerleaders develop their skills.
Visiting KU
Check out KU at one of the school's Campus Visit days.
KU admissions & costs
To see KU's admission criteria, check out the Undergraduate Admissions page. KU's In-state tuition and fees is about $4500/semester, and out-of-state tuition is about $9800/semester. Many students receive financial aid or scholarships. Note that the scholarship deadline is pretty early: December 1!
Frequently asked questions
What's the time commitment of cheering at KU?
On average, we have two 2-hour practices per week, one game per week, and two 1-hour strength & conditioning workouts. The nationals (competition) squad must stay at KU in January (over winter break) for practices and the trip to Disneyworld for UCA nationals. Everyone usually has to cheer some games during holiday breaks, and there are a few summer obligations. We also encourage squad members to go to open gyms, but it's not required.
Is there a weight or size requirement?
Nope. However, as with any sport, certain physical attributes can make the sport much easier or more difficult for you. In coed cheerleading, smaller girls and stronger guys are at an advantage in stunting. Also, KU's cheerleaders are front-line representatives of the university, so we're expected to be in excellent physical shape.
Can girls make the squad who only based stunts in high school?
It's possible, but since KU doesn't have an all-girl squad, you'd need to learn to fly in coed stunts pretty well.
What are the tryout requirements?
See the Selection Criteria section of the Tryouts page.