High Point University competes in the Big South Conference as the Panthers. The HPU Cheerleaders cheer at all men’s and women’s home basketball games, volleyball games, and select other games and events. Several members represent HPU at the Big South Basketball Tournament in early March. HPU has also added competition to the program: the roster carries up to 24 athletes who cheer at HPU events and compete at NCA, with the season ending at the NCA championships in Daytona, Florida. This guide follows the official HPU Cheerleaders page and HPU’s tryout packets.

Where the cycle stands (September 30, 2026): tryouts for the 2026-27 team took place in spring 2026, and the 2026-27 roster is posted. HPU hasn’t posted a 2027-28 tryout packet yet. The timing has changed between cycles: the 2025-26 tryout was held in September 2025, while the 2026-27 tryout started with videos due March 31, 2026. Check the official page for the next cycle’s dates.

Who Can Try Out

• You must be enrolled as a full-time student at HPU.
• Before the in-person rounds, the Athletic Training Department must clear you. It emails you after your video submission. You’ll need a completed medical packet, a copy of your insurance card (front and back) and a physical from within the last six months. For 2026-27 these were due by 5 p.m. on April 16.
• The in-person tryout fee is $50.

How the 2026-27 Tryout Worked

1. First round, video submission (due March 31, 2026): send a link (OneDrive, Google Drive, YouTube or Dropbox) or an email attachment to the head coach. The video must include an introduction (full name, hometown, class year, position, cheer experience and why you want to join), your highest standing and running tumbling, two stunts per position (for example, two as a side base and two as a flyer if you do both), and one sideline cheer of your choice to show voice and sharp motions. HPU replies within two weeks about the second round.
2. Second round, in person (April 18, 2026; invitation only and mandatory): at Parkway Commons Gym, candidates learned the material (two sidelines, the fight song and a band dance) and had a tumbling and stunting skills check.
3. Final round, in person (April 19, 2026): candidates performed the material at Parkway Commons Gym.

How You’re Scored

HPU judges collegiate appearance, clean skills, athletic ability and technique, tumbling, jumps, knowledge of material and stunts, and says requirements are held to “a strict level of acceptance.”

• Tumbling (20%): standing: minimum back handspring, preferred back tuck. Running: minimum round-off two back handsprings or round-off tuck; preferred round-off handspring series to a tuck or layout. All tumbling is on the gym court; mats are only for warming up.
• Stunting (20%): two different entries (such as straight up, walk-in, quick toss or full up), two body positions (such as lib, stretch, arabesque, scale or scorpion) and two dismounts (such as bump down, 360 cradle, pop-off, front flip or cartwheel out). Higher-level skills score more.
• Jumps (5%): a single toe touch and a jump of your choice.
• Material (30%): fight song, band dance and two sidelines.
• Energy (10%): volume, smiles and excitement.

What to Wear and Bring

• A purple or white T-shirt or sports bra (no oversized T-shirts) and black shorts.
• White socks and cheer shoes.
• Game-day-ready makeup and hair pulled out of your face. No long nails.
• The $50 tryout fee, a water bottle and any braces or tape you need.

Coach and Contact

Sydney Smith has been HPU’s head cheerleading coach since 2015. For questions about the squad and tryouts, the official page lists HPUCheer@highpoint.edu. The tryout packet sends questions and videos to Coach Smith at ssmith5@highpoint.edu. Prospective athletes can also fill out the “Get Recruited” form on the HPU Cheerleaders page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to be an HPU student to try out?

Yes. HPU’s packet says you must be enrolled as a full-time student at the university.

What tumbling do I need for HPU cheer?

At least a standing back handspring and a round-off two back handsprings or round-off tuck. A standing back tuck and a running pass to a tuck or layout are preferred.

Does HPU cheer compete?

Yes. The roster of up to 24 athletes competes a couple of times during the season, ending at the NCA championships in Daytona.

Is there a tryout fee?

Yes, $50 for the in-person tryout in both the 2025-26 and 2026-27 cycles.

When are the next HPU cheer tryouts?

HPU hadn’t posted 2027-28 dates as of September 30, 2026. The 2026-27 packet was posted in December 2025, with videos due March 31.

Related Resources

• How to Film a Cheer Tryout Video
• How to Do a Back Handspring
• How to Do a Standing Back Tuck
• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory

Sources: High Point University Athletics, HPU Cheerleaders, HPU Cheer Tryout Info 2026-27, HPU Cheer Tryout Info 2025-26 and Sydney Smith bio. Last checked September 30, 2026.