This guide covers the University of Arizona in Tucson (the Wildcats), not Arizona State. Arizona Cheerleaders & Mascots is a non-competitive, non-scholarship, coed partner-stunt team under Arizona Athletics. It cheers for the Wildcats, who play in the Big 12 Conference. Tryouts start with an online application and a Round 1 skills video, followed by invite-only in-person rounds in Tucson. This guide follows Arizona’s official Tryouts & Team FAQs page and its 2026-2027 tryout information packet. The dates below are from the 2026 cycle (the 2026-27 team). As of September 29, 2026, Arizona hadn’t posted dates for the 2027-28 team.
The Team
- Coed partner stunts only: male bases and female flyers. There are no all-girl or multi-base positions.
- Size: 18 to 30 members. Up to 15 flyers and 15 bases may be selected, but not every spot is filled each year.
- Every spot is earned yearly. Returning members must try out again. Arizona doesn’t recruit; selection is by tryout only.
- Schedule: mandatory preseason training starts in mid-to-late July, followed by UCA College Camp in August. The season ends in March or April, depending on post-season basketball. Cheerleaders practice three times a week and lift twice a week.
- Games: football, men’s and women’s basketball and women’s volleyball.
- Benefits: travel to away and post-season football and some basketball events, uniforms and Nike gear, and use of athletics facilities, including the strength and conditioning facility, Bear Down Kitchen (one free meal a day) and the Kasser Medical Treatment Center. No scholarships.
- Costs if you make the team: the 2026-27 packet lists membership dues of $200 per school year, plus $300 in fundraising by spring semester.
Who Can Try Out
- You must be accepted to the University of Arizona for the coming fall semester, or be a current UA student.
- You need a minimum 2.0 semester and cumulative GPA.
- Team members must stay full-time students: 12 units a semester for undergraduates and 6 for graduate students.
How the 2026 Tryout Worked
- April 17, 2026, 5:00 PM MST: online application and Round 1 skills videos due. Late submissions weren’t accepted.
- April 20: Semifinal invitations emailed, with a link to learn the Fight Song motions. Evaluation forms were also sent to your two professional references.
- May 1: reference evaluation forms due. They count toward your application points.
- May 9-10: invite-only Semifinals and Finals in Tucson. The Semifinals included a fitness evaluation and skills evaluations, with cuts. Finals included an interview with the judges. The team was announced right after tryouts ended on Sunday.
Arizona doesn’t offer fully virtual or video-only tryouts. The video is only the first round, and in-person attendance is mandatory for advancing candidates.
Documents and Fee (2026)
- A UA acceptance letter for Fall 2026 (incoming students) or enrollment verification (current students)
- An unofficial transcript showing at least a 2.0 semester and cumulative GPA
- A Medical Release Form signed by an MD or DO. Nurse practitioners can’t sign it.
- The UA Assumption of Risk & Release Statement
- Contact details for two professional references
- A $50 non-refundable application fee, waived for male bases and returning members
Round 1 Video Skills (2026)
- Coed partner stunts (everyone): toss chair, toss hands extension, toss hands liberty and toss target heel stretch. Males are also considered on potential.
- Running tumbling on a non-spring cheer mat (optional for males), choose one: round-off three back handsprings to tuck, round-off back handspring to layout, or round-off back handspring to full.
- Tumbling on a basketball court (optional for males): standing back tuck, standing back handspring to back tuck, and running round-off back handspring to back tuck.
- Musical freestyle (women only): a 30-second video to a game day song, rallying the crowd as if you were on the Arizona sideline.
Flyers must meet all the tumbling requirements. Tumbling is preferred but not required for male bases.
What to Wear
Arizona scores appearance and collegiate presentation. Women wear Arizona colors or a neutral T-shirt with a sports bra and shorts with spandex, a half-up or full ponytail with a bow, cheer or athletic shoes, game day makeup and athletic-length nails. Men wear a clean T-shirt, shorts and athletic or cheer shoes, with clean-cut hair. No jewelry and no official “Arizona Cheerleading” apparel.
Clinics
Arizona says it typically holds a fall clinic, a spring tryout prep clinic and a Future Spirit of Arizona Weekend in January or February. Tumbling isn’t taught at clinics. To hear about upcoming clinics, fill in the Cheer Interest Form.
Contact
Head Coach Vanessa Romeo: vromeo@arizona.edu. Courtney Broome is the Assistant Coach.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Arizona cheer tryouts? For 2026, applications and videos were due April 17 and in-person rounds were May 9-10. Check the tryouts page for the 2027 dates.
Is there an all-girl team? No. Arizona is a coed partner-stunt team, with female flyers and male bases.
Does Arizona cheer compete or give scholarships? No to both. The team is non-competitive and non-scholarship.
Related Resources
- Arizona State University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- University of Utah Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- How to Film a Cheer Tryout Video
- College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
Sources: University of Arizona Athletics, Tryouts & Team FAQs, 2026-2027 Arizona Cheerleading Tryout Information & Application Forms (PDF), About Arizona Cheerleaders & Mascots and the 2025-26 Cheerleading Roster. Last checked September 29, 2026.
