The University of Nevada, Reno picks its cheer, stunt, pom and mascot teams at one spring tryout weekend. For the 2026-27 season, applications were due April 30, 2026, and tryouts ran May 8–10 in Reno. This guide follows the Nevada Spirit Program’s 2026-2027 Tryouts page, the site Nevada Athletics sends tryout and clinic questions to. As of September 29, 2026, the program hadn’t posted dates for the 2027-28 teams.

The Program

• Four teams. Pom (dance and sideline), Cheer (pod stunting, tumbling and sign work), Stunt (coed stunting and tumbling) and Mascot. All four teams represent the Wolf Pack together.
• Games. The teams cheer at football, men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and some other Wolf Pack sports.
• Staff. Nevada’s staff directory lists Kim Anastassatos, Associate AD for Special Events, over cheerleading. It also lists Hayley Canfield (cheer coach), Antonia Polan (pom coach), Javier and Savannah Hernandez (stunt coaches) and Mark Ubando and Dennis Green (mascot coaches).
• Conference. Nevada competes in the Mountain West.

Eligibility

• A GPA above 2.0. The program encourages 3.0 or higher.
• Full-time enrollment (12 credits) for the whole year. Graduating seniors are the only exception, and they need the coaches’ approval.
• Your fall class schedule must be free for practice: Tuesday to Thursday, 4:00–6:30 PM for Cheer and Pom, and 4:30–7:30 PM for Stunt.

How Tryouts Worked in 2026

• Apply online by April 30, 2026 (midnight). No video was required. Everyone who applied tried out in person.
• Tryout weekend: May 8–10, 2026, at Virginia Street Gym. Cuts were made across the weekend, and the new team was announced at the end of the weekend, followed by a mandatory team meeting.
• Tryout fee: $75, nonrefundable, paid at check-in by card, cash or check.
• Material: after your packet is received, you get the Nevada Fight Song and tryout timeout choreography within 48 hours. Men needed toss hands and the fight song.
• What to wear: white top and navy bottoms all three days, game ready.

Required Paperwork

• Everyone: a headshot taken within the last year, and the front and back of your health insurance card.
• High school students: your UNR admission letter or proof of application, and an unofficial high school transcript.
• College students: your latest unofficial transcript, a progress report from current classes and your fall schedule.

If You Make the Team

• Spirit fee: $500 per member, raised as a team fundraiser. It covers spirit packs, gear, camps, camp travel and guest instructors. For 2026, it was due August 1.
• Physicals are done in Reno with University of Nevada doctors and trainers after selection.
• Summer: in 2026, a mandatory team material weekend (cheer camp) was held in late July. Members reported back in early August and stayed in Reno until fall semester.
• Workouts, appearances and community service are expected. Some events are mandatory.
• Book scholarships are open to members with a 3.0 GPA or higher after their first semester.

Clinics

The program also runs a College Prep Clinic for high school athletes at Mackay Stadium ($50). The most recent clinic was postponed, and the program says new dates are coming.

Contact

Email the Nevada Spirit Program at nevadacheer@unr.edu. Tryout and clinic updates go on nvcheer.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are Nevada cheer tryouts? In 2026, applications were due April 30 and tryouts ran May 8–10. Watch the tryout page for the next cycle.

Do I need a tryout video? Not for 2026-27. Everyone who applied tried out in person.

What does it cost? In 2026, the tryout fee was $75, and each team member paid a $500 spirit fee.

Related Resources

• UNLV Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Boise State University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Fresno State University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory

Sources: Nevada Spirit Program, 2026-2027 Tryouts, Our History and home page; Nevada Athletics, Nevada Wolf Pack Spirit Program and Staff Directory. Last checked September 29, 2026.