Oklahoma State’s large coed cheer team is part of the OSU Spirit Group, alongside the Pom Squad and Pistol Pete. Its tryout isn’t a single in-person day. You first apply and submit skills videos, and the coaching staff then invites selected athletes to a live selection weekend. This guide covers that coed team, based on OSU Athletics’ official Cheer Tryouts page.

Looking for OSU’s all-girl team instead? That’s the Competitive Cheer and STUNT Club, which runs its own selection outside athletics. See the OSU STUNT team site.

Who Can Try Out

• High school seniors planning to attend OSU, and current OSU students.
• You must be admitted to Oklahoma State or NOC-Stillwater (Northern Oklahoma College) and show proof of acceptance before your videos are considered.
• You must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA, matching the athletic department standard.
• You must complete the tryout application and waiver, and verify health insurance at registration.

Step 1: Application and Video Submission

All of the following go in online through links on the tryouts page:

1. The cheer team application form.
2. Proof of acceptance — an admission email or letter, a scan of your OSU ID, or another document showing you’re admitted for fall.
3. Your skills videos (see below).
4. A full-body photo in tryout attire with a “gameday appearance.” Women trying out for large coed wear a sports bra and spankies; men wear a t-shirt and athletic shorts.

Required video skills

• Up to 3 different running tumbling passes at your highest difficulty.
• Up to 3 different standing tumbling passes at your highest difficulty.
• A triple jump combination showing at least two different jumps.
• A standing back tuck or standing full.
• Up to 3 stunts of your choice, including at least one double-twisting dismount and one flipping dismount.

OSU’s video rules matter:

• All tumbling must be on a non-spring floor, with no spot.
• Large-coed stunt videos should be partner stunts (one base, one flyer).
• If you can’t film an exact skill because of partners or facilities, OSU accepts a similar one — a twisting dismount in place of a flipping dismount, for example.
• Men with very strong tumbling (specialty passes ending in at least a full) but weaker stunting can show game-day stunts instead, such as a walk-up extension, toss extension lib or stretch, hand awesome, toss target pull lib or toss lib.
• Don’t include any skill you can’t perform safely.

Step 2: Live Team Selection (By Invitation)

After reviewing applications and videos, Cheer Coach Lindsay “Salli” Bracken emails every applicant to say whether they’re invited to the live selection. The invitation includes instructions for the in-person round.

Prior-cycle timing: for the 2026-27 team, videos were due April 26 and live selection ran May 9–10, with a team meeting after the announcement. OSU also listed an additional tryout on July 18. Those dates have passed; check OSU’s official tryouts page for the current deadline and live-selection dates.

Cost and Scholarships

Two things surprise a lot of applicants:

• OSU doesn’t have a cheerleading scholarship program. It points athletes to general university aid instead.
• There’s no cost to be on the team. OSU says Spirit Group members have no financial obligations. Uniforms, camp, camp clothes, footwear and all travel (including meal money) are covered. Members also get access to a team doctor, athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach.

In return, OSU says each squad member is required to attend all athletic events and to act as an ambassador for the university.

How to Prepare

• Train tumbling on hard floors. If you’ve mostly tumbled on spring floors, your video passes will look different on a non-spring surface. Practice on one well before you film.
• Secure your standing back tuck — it’s a listed requirement. See how to do a standing back tuck.
• Find a reliable stunt partner early. Large-coed videos need partner stunts with both a twisting and a flipping dismount.
• Film well. Use good light, a steady camera and a full-body frame that shows your landings.
• Consider OSU’s college prep clinic, which is listed under Clinics on the OSU Spirit page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the OSU cheer tryout in person? Only the final round. Everyone starts with an application and skills videos, and invited athletes attend a live selection weekend.

What GPA do I need? A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA.

Can I try out if I’m going to NOC instead of OSU? Yes. Admission to NOC-Stillwater also makes you eligible.

Does OSU offer cheer scholarships? No. OSU says it doesn’t have a cheerleading scholarship program, but team costs, including travel, are covered.

Are the coed team and the STUNT team the same tryout? No. The large coed team is selected through OSU Athletics. The all-girl Competitive Cheer and STUNT Club runs a separate process.

Who runs OSU Spirit? Lindsay Bracken is the cheer coach, and Beki Jackson is the Pom coach and spirit coordinator.

Related Resources

• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
• University of Oklahoma Cheer Requirements
• Cheer Stunts & Tumbling Hub
• Cheerleading Glossary

Sources: Oklahoma State University Athletics, Cheer Tryouts (2026-27 selection process, requirements, benefits), Lindsay Bracken and Beki Jackson staff pages, and the Spirit page. Last checked September 23, 2026.