Texas State’s cheer program, part of the Texas State Spirit Program, has a coed team and an all-girl team. For 2026-27 it carries 72 athletes: 31 on the coed roster and 41 on the all-girl roster. The program fills most spots through a signing process, then holds a traditional tryout for any open spots. This guide follows the official Texas State Spirit Program Tryouts page on TXST.com.
Where the cycle stands (September 30, 2026): the details below are from the 2026-27 cycle, which ended with tryouts in May 2026. Texas State hasn’t posted 2027-28 tryout dates yet. Check the tryouts page for the next cycle.
Two Ways onto the Team
1. Signing
Most roster spots are filled by signing. Texas State asks high school seniors and current college athletes to connect by filling out its TXST Cheerleader Interest Form (linked on the tryouts page), emailing the coaching staff, or reaching out through @TXSTcheer on social media. Candidates submit skills to the coaching staff for evaluation, meet with the staff virtually or in person, and must show proof of enrollment or acceptance to Texas State before any official offer.
2. Open Tryout
For 2026-27 the tryout was 100% open. Registration ran March 1 to April 25, 2026, with a $50 tryout fee, and the in-person tryout was held May 8-10, 2026. You needed proof of enrollment or acceptance to Texas State by the in-person tryout. The 2026-27 schedule was:
- Friday: tumbling evaluation, then teaching of sideline material (fight song and cheer). Cuts were made after tumbling.
- Saturday: interviews (questions on the university, the cheer program and Bobcat athletics), sideline material evaluation and tryout stunts: one sideline stunt, such as a full up or toss extension, and one elite sequence, such as a BHS up to stretch double down. Teams were announced that night.
- Sunday: first team practices, all-girl in the morning and coed in the afternoon.
Bring proof of enrollment or acceptance, two reference letters (one coach or personal reference and one employer or teacher), a copy of your college or high school transcript (unofficial is fine) and a copy of your insurance card. Outside credentialed judges help run tryouts, and the coach or advisor makes the final decision.
In the 2026 tryout, 108 athletes (90 women and 18 men) tried out. Ten earned roster spots, joining 15 signees and 47 returners.
Required Skills (2026-27)
Texas State calls these the minimum requirements and highly recommends more advanced skills.
- Tumbling (both teams): standing back tuck, standing back handspring layout, and round-off back handspring layout. Twisting and specialty passes are highly recommended.
- All-girl stunting: a sideline full up and a back handspring up with a high, clean pop off, plus one flipping skill with a dismount and one spinning skill other than a full up. Top girls must show a body position in one of the elite stunts.
- Coed stunting: a sideline toss extension with a high, clean pop off, plus a toss target pull lib. A flipping skill with a dismount is preferred.
- Everyone: cheering and spirit, sharp motions, personality, voice projection, presence, knowledge of Texas State, and knowledge of the fight song and alma mater.
Video Tryouts
If you can’t attend in person, Texas State accepts video tryouts. For 2026-27, videos were due April 25 and video candidates still had to register and pay. A video includes:
- An interview: your name, major, cheer experience and position, then “Why Texas State?” and “Why do you want to cheer in college?”
- Game day stunts (all-girl: a full up, a full up variation and a front handspring up; coed: toss extension and toss target pull lib) and an elite stunt with a college-level dismount.
- Five standing tucks in a row, your best standing pass and your best running pass.
- The fight song and cheer, using the tryout material video linked on the tryouts page.
Videos go to spiritprogram@txstate.edu.
If You Make the Team
- You must be in good academic standing with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, and you can’t be on academic or disciplinary probation.
- You must live in the San Marcos area (Hays or Comal County) during the school year.
- You need personal injury medical insurance for as long as you’re on the team.
- You attend all practices, performances, summer camps and assigned events, including some weekends, breaks and holidays. For 2026-27, the first on-campus practice weekend was tentatively set for June 6-7.
- Members are both game day and competitive cheerleaders, and each member must fundraise and help run clinics and camps to raise money for the program.
In 2026 the program’s first game day squad finished seventh at the UCA College National Cheerleading Championship.
Contact
Ryan Riley is Head Cheer Coach and Spirit Coordinator. Skills for signing evaluation go to rriley@txstate.edu; video tryout submissions go to spiritprogram@txstate.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Texas State cheer tryouts?
For 2026-27, registration ran March 1 to April 25 and tryouts were May 8-10, 2026. Texas State hasn’t posted 2027-28 dates yet.
Is there a tryout fee?
Yes. It was $50 per athlete for 2026-27.
Can I try out by video?
Yes. Video candidates register, pay the fee and send their video by the registration deadline.
What GPA do I need?
If selected, you need a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and can’t be on academic or disciplinary probation.
Related Resources
- University of Texas at Austin Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- Texas A&M University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- University of Louisiana Lafayette Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- How to Film a Cheer Tryout Video
- College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
Sources: Texas State Athletics, Texas State Spirit Program Tryouts, “Texas State Cheer Announces 2026-27 Rosters” (2026) and Spirit Program Coaches. Last checked September 30, 2026.
