West Virginia University is a member of the Big 12 Conference, and WVU Cheerleading is part of the Mountaineer Spirit Program with the WVU Dance Team. Starting with the 2026-27 season, WVU replaced its Gold and Blue squads with one co-ed cheerleading team that supports football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball and appears at select campus and community events. This guide follows WVU Athletics’ official Cheerleading page and tryout documents.

Where the cycle stands (September 30, 2026): tryouts for the 2026-27 team were held May 2–3, 2026, and WVU announced the squad on May 8. WVU hasn’t posted 2027-28 tryout dates yet. The 2026-27 details below show how the most recent tryout worked.

The New Team Structure

Under the old model, the Gold team cheered for football and men’s basketball and the Blue team for women’s basketball. From 2026-27 all members are on one team. WVU encourages both men and women to try out, and prior co-ed stunting experience isn’t required: beginner-level stunts are taught during tryout clinics.

Eligibility

• Full-time WVU student with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0. Incoming freshmen must show proof of acceptance.
• Proof of current health insurance, plus proof of coverage in Morgantown (at least emergency room coverage).
• New candidates need proof of a physical from a physician within six months of the tryout.

Registration paperwork was due April 29 for the 2026 tryout and was emailed to WVUCheer@mail.wvu.edu. The tryout checklist lists the questionnaire, a course schedule or acceptance letter, a GPA printout and informed consent for everyone, plus medical and athletic training forms for new candidates. Without accepted insurance or a recent physical, you can’t try out.

Skills Evaluated

Women:

• Tumbling: standing back handspring and round-off with a series of three back handsprings (both required); standing tuck and a choice pass (evaluated).
• Individual skills: toe touch, standing right and left heel stretch, and scorpion.
• Cheer and dance: clean, sharp motions, crowd leadership, voice projection and dance technique.
• Partner stunts at the coaches’ discretion. Incoming freshmen and beginners: assisted toe touch, toss hands and other stunts. Upperclassmen and transfers: extension, liberty and other skills.

Men:

• Athletic ability and enough strength to learn to lift, catch and throw safely. Experience is encouraged but not necessary.
• Cheer motions, crowd leadership and voice projection.
• Partner stunts at the coaches’ discretion: assisted toe touch and toss hands for beginners; extension and liberty for upperclassmen and transfers.
• Tumbling may be shown but isn’t required.

All cheer, dance and stunt material is taught at tryouts.

Tryout Days (2026)

• Where: the Women’s Basketball Practice Facility beside Hope Coliseum, 3450 Monongahela Blvd., Morgantown. Tryouts are closed to the public, and only water is allowed inside.
• Day 1: all candidates were evaluated on cheer, dance and gymnastics, followed by stunts for upperclassmen and transfer students. Coaches could make cuts.
• Day 2: stunts for incoming freshmen and beginners.
• Video tryouts: only for extenuating circumstances, approved by the coaches on request by email.

What to wear: women wear aerobic clothing or a form-fitting shirt and shorts, clean cheer shoes, hair away from the face and natural-looking makeup. Men wear shorts, a T-shirt and clean gym shoes. No jewelry or gum.

Besides skills, WVU lists factors such as attendance and discipline records, work ethic, coachability, commitment, potential and GPA. Results are posted in the news section of WVUSports.com. Members may not cheer for any other team while on the WVU squad.

Coaches and Contact

Christy Bryan-Davis is WVU’s head cheerleading coach, and Shannon Elliott is the assistant coach (staff directory). For questions, email WVUCheer@mail.wvu.edu.

WVU also has a separate, student-run competitive cheer club, listed on WVU Engage. It is an all-girl team that competes at NCA Nationals in Daytona Beach and isn’t part of the athletics squad.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does WVU still have Gold and Blue cheer teams?

No. From 2026-27, WVU has one co-ed cheerleading team that cheers for football and men’s and women’s basketball.

Do I need co-ed stunting experience?

No. Beginner-level stunts are taught during tryout clinics, and men don’t need prior experience.

What tumbling do women need?

A standing back handspring and a round-off with three back handsprings are required. A standing tuck and a choice pass are evaluated.

Can I try out by video?

Only for extenuating circumstances, and only if the coaches approve an emailed request.

When are the next WVU cheer tryouts?

WVU hadn’t posted 2027-28 dates as of September 30, 2026. The 2026 tryout was announced in early April and held in early May.

Related Resources

• How to Do a Back Handspring
• How to Base in Cheerleading
• All-Girl vs. Coed Cheer
• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory

Sources: WVU Athletics, Cheerleading, Co-Ed Cheerleading Tryout Information, Tryout Documents Checklist, New Cheerleading Structure, 2026-27 Tryout Information Available (April 2026), 2026-27 WVU Cheer Team Announced (May 2026), Spirit Program and Staff Directory; WVU Engage. Last checked September 30, 2026.