Cheerleading at Mayo takes hard work, dedication, and the right attitude; here’s how to secure your spot on the 2025 Mayo Cheer Team!
Tryouts for the Mayo Cheer Team (MCT) begin on Monday, April 7th and end Thursday, April 10th, but don’t forget, there is a lot to get done in three days, and those who show true dedication and eagerness for a spot should begin practicing weeks before tryouts begin. Evie Kastner, a former cheerleader, two-year assistant coach, and first-year head coach of MCT thinks it is essential to start practicing way in advance of tryouts, focusing on kicks and jumps. “If I were new to cheer, I would look up some TikTok’s and YouTube videos on how to do jumps and work on my kicks in the weeks leading up to tryouts,” Kastner said. There is much more to learn once the team gets together, so “It’s good to prep those things… then at tryouts, you can focus on new stuff.” When preparing to try out for the cheer team, it is important to focus on the aesthetics of your jumps; “…keeping your toes pointed is way more important than height, without pointed toes, the height means nothing,” Kastner explained.
Jumping and stunting skills are important parts of being on the cheer team, but they are not the most important factor in your tryout; attitude means everything. When trying out for the cheer team, it is critical to maintain an optimistic mindset regarding the coach, team members, and yourself. Kastner believes this is the best path to success: “Having a positive attitude overall throughout the process is something that I look for. You know it’s stressful learning all that material in three days, so staying positive and not beating others and yourself down throughout the process is always important…”
Positivity is fundamental to maintaining an elite team. It’s a key ingredient in good team chemistry; in fact, Kastner looks “…for people who are staying positive, helping each other, asking questions, and being respectful.” One of the most important things to remember during tryouts is your character; you want to be the person others gravitate to for comfort and positivity, not someone who scares them off by being too confident and/or mean. It’s easy for girls to get in their heads and only care about the tryout itself, but truly, you are trying out for the team the moment you walk into the gym on Monday and exit on Thursday, while it’s important not to be overconfident, it’s still important to have some self-assurance.
Cheerleading tryouts consist of three days of strenuous work, including basic stunting, repetitive dancing, hardcore jumping, and learning multiple chants and cheers; these three days are critical to the next five to six months of your life, depending on what our very own Spartan football team puts out. After tryouts, you’ll begin practicing in June, following through to late October and potentially November. The team shows up to every game with high spirits to channel the best vibes from the crowd. The spirit from the student section is astronomical when we begin a fan favorite chant: TRUCKIN. The athletes on the cheer team love to get the crowd pumped up and ready for a Spartan victory; it is their job, after all.
Kastner shares her insight on tryouts: ”I would choose somebody who needs some work and has a good mindset over somebody with amazing skills and a poor attitude any day. Poor dynamics ruin the team dynamic.” Coach Kastner demonstrates compassion for all her athletes and believes everyone should be given a chance to be on the team as long as they are coachable and open to constructive criticism where needed. So keep up the positivity and teamwork!
Klara Stafford, a Junior athlete going into her senior year, believes that “attitude is the most important part of trying out if you’re looking to make the team. It’s the first thing that coaches are going to notice. Be kind, be yourself, ask questions if you have them, and just make sure you aren’t taking yourself too seriously; have fun and try to learn.” Stafford also believes that “someone who has great team player qualities is super likely to make the team.” Personality, personability, and social skills are important components in your tryout.
Cheerleading is a huge part of Mayo’s school spirit, the cheer team motivates the Football players during games, performs the school song at pep fests, and does a large performance at the Homecoming pepfest. Although the cheer team sounds like all fun and games, it is quite a process to nail a spot on this prestigious team. All the girls show up, but not all the girls get to go home with a uniform.
The MCT wants you as long as you want it, which can be shown through your actions and mindset. Cheer is nothing like what you see in the movies; it’s not just a bunch of attractive females who dance around and act all bubbly. It is hard work, dedication and full of tight-knit, loving teammates who want to stand with you through everything. “Cheer impacted my life a lot because you spend so much time working toward a goal with the same group of people every day, and you end up with so many new friendships and experiences together,” Stafford said. Joining high school cheer can change your life in so many unexpected ways, not just physically but mentally. It creates unbreakable bonds and many memories.
Don’t fret; cheerleading is for everyone to enjoy watching and doing; even if you aren’t feeling the most confident before tryouts, you should still show up and give it your all. You never know – maybe you will make the cut. Kastner explained that, “…last year, we had about 100 sign up, and about 100 came on the first day, but only 90 tried out.” If you want it, go for it, and give it your all; don’t let fear get the best of you. The best chance you have to make the team is showing up and trying your best, and if you don’t receive a spot this year, you are encouraged to come back next year even stronger.
During tryouts, don’t forget to put your best foot forward with a smile and a great attitude! Putting in extra work for tryouts is non-negotiable and can be vital to your tryout if you want to be a part of the MCT. It will all be worth it in the end. Try your best. Cheer your heart out, and have fun, the six month season will be life-changing.
Be sure to follow @MayoCheerTeam on Instagram for more information about tryouts!
Photos courtesy of Evie Kastner
