WICHITA – The dates are set for Wichita State's spirit squad tryouts as cheerleading and mascot tryouts will take place May 14-15 and dance tryouts are scheduled for May 21 in the Heskett Center.
CHEERLEADING TRYOUTS – MAY 14-15 – HESKETT CENTER
When Time Format and Requirements
Day 1 9:00 am-5 pm
May 14, 2023 9:00 am-9:30 am Stretch
9:30 am-10:30 am Fight Song
10:30 am-11:30 am Standing and Running Tumbling
11:30 am-1:00 pm Lunch/Break
1:00 pm-1:30 pm Stretch
1:30 pm-4:30 pm Stunting
4:30 pm-5 pm Day 1 wrap-up and questions
Day 2
May 15, 2023 5:00-8:00 pm Official Tryouts & Wu tryouts
8:15 pm 2023-24 Team Roster will be posted on the front doors of the Heskett Center
Location: Heskett Center (top floor)
Tryout Requirements:
● Incoming freshmen are eligible
● Current and transfer students are eligible with a minimum 2.0 GPA
● Current students must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credit hours)
● Current and transfer students must be in good academic and disciplinary standing with
the university or the university they are transferring from
● All paperwork must be submitted by deadline: May 13, 2023.
Tryout Appearance:
● You should present a "gameday" appearance. Wichita State colors are recommended.
● Ladies: hair and makeup should be worn in a way that projects a collegiate and
professional image
o If trying out for coed, wear: sports bra and spandex shorts
o If trying out for all-girl, wear: t-shirts and spandex shorts
● Gentlemen: beard and hair should be groomed
o Wear: t-shirts and athletic shorts
Documentation:
● The following documents must be submitted by email to cheer@goshockers.com by
May 13, 2023. Please title "Cheer Tryout" in the subject line.
● All items must be submitted in PDF or JPG format.
o Tryout waiver
o Copy of insurance card (front and back)
o Proof of acceptance to Wichita State University (choose one of the following:)
▪ Email stating you have been accepted
▪ Printed letter stating you have been accepted
▪ Scanned copy of your myWSU id
▪ Or other document indicating you have been admitted as a student for
fall 2023
In the case, you are unable to be present for tryouts, please submit a video tryout following the
instructions below.
Video:
● Please send your link(s) to cheer@goshockers.com by May 12, 2023
● Feel free to use YouTube, Dropbox, Vimeo, etc.
● Introduction
o Your first and last name
o Your home city and state
o Your past all-star/high school/college cheerleading experience
o The position you wish to be considered for (base, back spot, flyer)
● Interview Questions (MAX. TIME: 2 minutes)
o What interested you in the Wichita State Cheer Program?
o How do you plan to balance academics, cheerleading, college life, and social life?
● Fight Song
o Show your current school's fight song routine
o If you are not currently cheering at a school, you need a dance that shows good
motion technique that is about 30 -45 seconds in length
● Jumps
o Hurdler
o Toe Touch
o Pike
● Tumbling
o Please consider the following:
▪ All skills should be performed on dead mat (non-spring) or gym floor
▪ Use video and skills that you have performed within the past 9 months
and can still perform.
▪ All tumbling skills are to be performed without a spot.
▪ Please show the highest level of skill you can complete safely.
o A standing back tuck or full
o Optional standing tumbling pass
o A running tumbling pass
o An optional running tumbling pass
● Stunting:
● All-girl & Coed
o Game day type skill (stunt that does not flip)
o Up to 3 to 4 additional skills
▪ Please attempt to show multiple body positions and dismounts
● Please specify where you are in the video (stunt position)
● Use video or skills that you have performed within the past 9 months and can still
perform.
WUSHOCK TRYOUTS – MAY 15 – HESKETT CENTER
Wichita State will be holding WuShock tryouts Monday, May 15 from 5-8 p.m. in the Heskett Center (upstairs in the gym).
Participants should wear athletic attire and be ready to work.
To sign up for WuShock tryouts, fill out the form at goshockers.com/wushocktryouts.
Requirements to be Wu:
• Full time student at WSU in good academic standing
• Able to perform with professional demeanor in front of a variety of crowds
• Able to interact with children of all ages
• Able to attend events and home games
• Able to attend Mascot Meetings or practice once a week
• Build - must be between 5'8" and 6'2" and able to wear the Wu suit
Commitment:
Students that are selected to portray Wu will be expected to make a time commitment to the mascot program. The mascots are required to attend games and events at WSU and around the community. The time commitment ranges from 5-15 hours per week depending on the time of year and the number of appearance requests. WuShock is an ambassador for the University, the Athletic Department and the community. The students who portray Wu must display good decision-making skills in and out of the suit. WuShock is expected to promote crowd involvement and sportsmanship at athletic events and appearances. Attendance at meetings, good communication skills and dependability are requirements for being part of the mascot program. Students selected as Wu will be asked to keep their "mascot identity" a secret while they are an active member of the mascot program.
Benefits:
Students that are selected as WuShock who remain in good standing with the program will receive benefits each semester. The students selected to be Wu will receive a scholarship as well as a full book scholarship. Students also receive complimentary tickets to all sporting events they are performing, clothing, access to a medical trainer, and travel to tournaments.
DANCE TRYOUTS – MAY 21 – HESKETT CENTER
STEP #1: GOOGLE DRIVE FOLDER
1.Create a Google Drive folder to compile all required documents.
2.Name your Google Drive folder: [Your first & last name] - Tryout Application
3.Change "Share" settings to from "Restricted" to "Anyone with the link"
4.Click
HERE to see example of Google Drive folder layout and share settings instructions.
5.You will submit your Google Drive folder link within your Tryout Application in Step 3.
STEP #2: REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Please upload ALL completed, required documents to your Google Drive folder you created in Step 1.
Required Documents:
1.Headshot Photo
2.Completed Tryout Waiver - found
HERE
3.PDF Copy of Medical Insurance Card (front & back)
4.Proof of Application/Acceptance to Wichita State University via one of the following:
a.Proof of Application (PDF copy of confirmation email)
b.PDF copy of Letter of Acceptance
STEP #3: SUBMIT TRYOUT APPLICATION
Click
HERE to complete and submit your tryout application. Please have the above checklist items completed before submiting your application. You will be asked to submit your Google Drive folder link within your application.
STEP #4: LEARN REQUIRED TRYOUT MATERIAL
All registered participants will receive a link to tryout material on May 13th at 9:00 AM. Registered participants will have one week to learn the tryout material provided.
STEP #5: ATTEND TRYOUTS
IN-PERSON tryouts will take place on May 21st at 9:00 AM. Participants will perform tryout material for a panel of judges.
Requirements
- $40 tryout fee per participant, collected upon Tryout Check In on May 21st.
- Must be enrolled in 12 credit hours (9 credit hours for graduate students)
- Students with a minimum 2.0 GPA are eligible.
Skills and Technique
Required
- Pirouettes (double, triple)
- Turns in Second
- Front Leap (left & right)
- Center leap (left & right)
- Calypso
- Toe Touch
- Straight Kicks (left & right)
- Turning Disc
- Firebird Jump
- Coupe turn
- Strong Pom technique
- Strong Hip Hop technique
- Excellent showmanship
Optional
- Headspring (highly encouraged)
- Kip up (highly encouraged)
- Aerial
- Tumbling
- Quad pirouette
- Turns in second variations
- Leg hold turn
- etc.
Tryout Schedule
DATE: May 21st, 2023
START TIME: 9:00 AM
LOCATION: WSU Heskett Center
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Check-In
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM: Warm up/Stretch
9:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Review Rotations
11:45 AM: Tryouts Start
