Boston College Cheer is part of the BC Spirit Program, together with the Pom squad and Baldwin the Eagle, the mascot. The team is coed: BC says it is made up of “a select group of male and female students.” This guide follows BC Athletics’ official Cheerleading and Tryout Information pages.
Where things stand (September 29, 2026): BC’s tryout and clinic pages still say “2021 … Dates Coming Soon!” and haven’t been updated for later years. No dates are posted for the 2026-27 or 2027-28 teams. Email the Spirit Director (see Contact below) to ask about the next tryout.
The Program
- Game days. The cheer team cheers at home and away football games, including bowl games, and at home men’s and women’s basketball games. BC plays in the ACC.
- Competition. BC says the team “prides itself on competing at NCA Nationals in Daytona” and consistently qualifies for it. Its main job is still promoting BC Athletics and leading the crowd.
- Beyond games. The team runs clinics, performs at community events and has appeared on ABC, ESPN, College GameDay and Fox Sports.
- Backgrounds. Members come from all-star cheer, high school varsity cheer, gymnastics, dance and other sports.
When Tryouts Happen
BC says cheer tryouts are “typically held both in the spring and fall semesters, in late April and early September.” The tryout page adds that BC holds sessions each spring and fall and may hold a short interview at any point during a tryout. Men and women are both welcome.
Skills on BC’s Tryout List
This is the skills list on BC’s tryout page. It was posted for the 2021 cycle and is the latest version BC has published, so confirm it with the coaches first.
- Cheer and fight song: show motion technique and crowd leading with a personal routine.
- Standing tumbling: back handspring, back tuck, toe touch to back handspring or back tuck, multiple handsprings, and handspring to tuck.
- Running tumbling: a tumbling pass, preferably two.
- Jumps: a sequence of jumps that includes a toe touch and a pike.
- Stunts (women): toss stunt, walk-up stunt, heel stretch to full or double down, arabesque, 540 cradle, and a transitional stunt (a combo of two or more stunts). For all-girl groups, BC asks that you be the only one in your group wearing a sports bra so your stunt position is clear.
- Stunts (men): toss stunt, walk-up stunt, an elevated stunt (extension, lib, arabesque, stretch or cupie) and a transitional stunt.
- Optional skills: any strength not covered above.
BC’s page says tryout videos and other material for the coaches can be sent by email.
What BC Doesn’t Publish
BC’s public pages don’t list a GPA minimum, a fee, a physical requirement or a squad size. Ask the Spirit Director about these before you try out.
Contact
The BC Athletics staff directory lists Alisa Borselli, Spirit Director (alisa.borselli@bc.edu, 617-552-3005), and Brandon Bruttomesso, Cheer Coach. Mail for the Spirit Program goes to: Boston College Spirit Program, c/o Alisa Borselli, Department of Athletics, 321 Conte Forum, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3861.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Boston College cheer tryouts? BC says they’re usually in late April and early September. It hasn’t posted dates for the current cycle, so ask the Spirit Director.
Can men try out? Yes. BC’s tryout page says men and women are welcome, and it lists separate stunt skills for men.
Does BC cheer compete? Yes. BC says the team competes at NCA Nationals in Daytona, Florida.
Related Resources
- Syracuse University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- University of Pittsburgh Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- How to Do a Standing Back Tuck
- College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
Sources: Boston College Athletics, Boston College Cheerleading, Tryout Information, BC Spirit Groups, Spirit Groups Roster and the Staff Directory. Last checked September 29, 2026.
