Eastern Kentucky University has two competitive cheer teams, Small Coed and All-Girl, and both have won national titles. EKU lists its championships as the 2021, 2022 and 2024 D1 Small Coed titles and the 2021 D1 All-Girl title at the UCA College Nationals. Tryouts are generally open, but you must attend an EKU cheer clinic before that year’s tryout. This guide follows EKU Athletics’ Spirit Groups and cheer program pages.
Where the cycle stands (September 30, 2026): the 2026-27 co-ed roster is posted, and EKU hasn’t published dates for its next tryout. The clinic registration form on the Spirit Groups page is for a September 20 clinic, which has already passed. Fill out the cheer interest form and watch the Spirit Groups page for the next clinic.
How to Get on EKU’s Radar
- Fill out the EKU Cheer Interest Form. It asks for your grade, school, age, position (main or side base, flyer, back spot, and any others you can do) and what appeals to you about EKU cheer.
- Attend a clinic. EKU says you must attend one clinic before that year’s tryouts. The most recent clinic form described a session at the Olympic Sports Training Center from 1 to 3:30 p.m., for 9th grade and up, at $100 per athlete. Clinic athletes bring a signed waiver, medical and photo release (the clinic forms packet).
- Try out. EKU says tryouts are typically open and you don’t currently need an invitation, though that may change.
EKU also holds cheer open gyms; athletes sign the open gym waiver to take part in stunting and tumbling.
Skills EKU Looks For
EKU says experience in both all-girl and coed stunting is necessary, and it prefers standing and running tumbling through a full (this can change with the teams’ needs). Its program page gives these examples:
- Coed: toss extension, toss lib, toss cupie, tic tocs, full-up variations, hand-in-hands, rewinds, back handsprings, front handsprings.
- All-girl: quick toss, toss lib, full-up variations, hand-in-hands, rewinds, back handsprings, front handsprings.
On game day, EKU expects voice, smile, proper motion placement and sharpness.
What the Teams Do
- Cheer at home football games and home men’s and women’s basketball games, plus select home volleyball matches
- Compete at UCA College Nationals in Orlando in January, in the D1 Small Coed and D1 All-Girl divisions
- Work out as a team two to three days a week and complete study hall hours
- Make campus and community appearances and fundraise for competition travel
EKU’s program page says everyone in the program receives some type of scholarship, along with EKU apparel and access to weight rooms with the program’s strength and conditioning coaches.
Contacts
EKU’s Spirit Groups page lists co-head coaches for each team. Treva Parks, listed as Head Cheer Coach in the staff directory, can be reached at treva.parks@eku.edu for the all-girl team. For the co-ed team, co-head coach Mariah Polly is at mariah.polly@eku.edu. The program is on Instagram and Facebook as @EKU_Cheerleading.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an invitation to try out?
Not currently. EKU says tryouts are typically open, but you must attend one clinic before that year’s tryout.
Does EKU cheer offer scholarships?
EKU says everyone in the program receives some type of scholarship. Ask the coaches about amounts.
Is there a dance team too?
Yes. EKU has a Division I dance team with its own tryout packet and coach, listed on the Spirit Groups page.
Related Resources
- University of Kentucky Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- University of Louisville Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- Western Kentucky University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
Sources: Eastern Kentucky University Athletics, EKU Spirit Groups, About EKU Cheerleading, Clinic Forms, Cheerleading Roster and Staff Directory; EKU Cheer Clinic Registration and Interest forms. Last checked September 30, 2026.
