Ball State University cheerleaders support Cardinals athletics in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The squad cheers at all home football, men’s basketball, women’s basketball and volleyball games and makes appearances at other athletics, university and community events. Ball State Athletics runs the program, and its Cheerleaders page is the official source for tryouts.

Where the cycle stands (September 30, 2026): Ball State hasn’t posted current tryout information. Its Cheerleaders page still shows the tryout for the 2022-23 squads, and nothing has been posted for 2026-27 or 2027-28. The squad is active: the 2025-26 roster lists 35 cheerleaders (29 women and 6 men). The way to find out about the next tryout is to contact the head coach directly.

Who Runs the Program

Wendy Richards is Ball State’s cheerleading head coach. She graduated from Ball State in 1988 and was a three-year member of the Cardinals’ cheerleading squad. The 2025-26 roster lists Lexi Hidy, David Holloway and Jordan Moss as assistant coaches.

How to Ask About Tryouts

• Phone: 765-285-3242 (Wendy Richards, listed in the Ball State Athletics staff directory).
• Email: wrichards@varsity.com, the address the staff directory lists for the head coach.
• Recruiting questionnaire: the Cheerleaders page links to a recruiting questionnaire for prospective cheerleaders.

When you get in touch, ask when the next tryout is, what forms are needed, what skills are expected, and whether incoming freshmen can try out before they arrive on campus.

What the Last Posted Tryout Asked For (2022-23)

These details are from 2022 and may have changed, but they show what Ball State has asked for before.

• Paperwork: a cheerleading application, a cheerleader selection agreement, a medical release form and a copy of your insurance card, all submitted electronically.
• Proof of eligibility: incoming freshmen and transfers brought an acceptance letter and/or proof of deposit; current Ball State students brought a current transcript.
• Preferred skills for women: standing tucks, standing back handspring tucks, a handspring full if you have it, and a running back handspring tuck, layout or full, plus the ability to do toss, twisting and inverted stunts, collegiate basket tosses and pyramids.
• Preferred skills for men: standing tucks if you have them (or willingness to try), any tumbling passes you have, and the same toss, twisting and inverted stunting, basket toss and pyramid skills.
• What was judged: for women, the fight song, a sideline, stunts, tumbling, and basket tosses and/or pyramids; for men, stunts, tumbling, and basket tosses and/or pyramids.
• Open gyms: Ball State held several open gyms in the weeks before that tryout.

What Ball State Doesn’t Publish

Ball State doesn’t currently post a tryout date, GPA minimum, fee, video option or required skills list. Until you hear from the coach, work on the skills from the last posted tryout: standing and running tumbling, toss and twisting stunts, basket tosses, and the Ball State fight song. Our tryout tips cover how to prepare.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are Ball State cheer tryouts?

Ball State hasn’t posted a current date. The last posted tryout was in May 2022 for the 2022-23 squads. Call or email Coach Wendy Richards to ask about the next one.

Does Ball State have male cheerleaders?

Yes. The 2025-26 roster lists six men among its 35 cheerleaders.

What conference is Ball State in?

The Mid-American Conference (MAC).

Related Resources

• Indiana University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Purdue University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Butler University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Cheerleading Tryouts Guide
• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory

Sources: Ball State Athletics, Cheerleaders, 2025-26 Cheerleaders Roster, Wendy Richards bio and Staff Directory. Last checked September 30, 2026.