The University of New Mexico’s cheerleaders are part of the Lobo Spirit Program, with the Dance Team and the mascots Lobo Louie and Lucy. Tryouts combine an online application, a video round, Zoom interviews and in-person finals. For the 2026-27 season, applications were due April 14, 2026, and in-person tryouts ran May 1–3. This guide follows UNM Athletics’ Lobo Spirit Tryouts page and the 2026-27 Cheer Tryout Packet. As of September 30, 2026, UNM hadn’t posted dates for the 2027-28 tryouts.

A Game-Day Program First

UNM describes the Lobo Spirit Program as a game-day team. It wants team-first athletes who are passionate about serving UNM through game-day cheer and dance. The program says national competition “may exist but are not guaranteed” and comes second to game-day performance. Members perform at football, volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball, including in The Pit, and can audition for a separate Spirit Nationals team.

UNM lists a 2024 first-place finish for its coed team at USA Nationals (Gameday Sideline division). UNM competes in the Mountain West.

Eligibility

• Be accepted to UNM before tryouts.
• Full-time enrollment (at least 12 credit hours) and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Members also need a 2.5 semester GPA each term.
• A current physical and active medical insurance.

How Tryouts Worked for 2026-27

• March 30: packet and application available.
• April 14 (5 p.m. MST): online application and $75 nonrefundable fee due.
• April 19: final clinic opportunity.
• April 20 (5 p.m.): tryout video and two recommendation forms due.
• April 24: finalists announced.
• April 26–30: Zoom interviews, by sign-up.
• May 1–3: in-person tryouts for finalists (cheer on May 1 from 5–8:30 p.m., May 2 from 8 a.m.–1 p.m. and May 3 from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.). The team was announced at 5 p.m. on May 3, followed by a team meeting.

Finalists also had to turn in a current sports physical on UNM Athletics’ form, a health questionnaire and a printed 4×6 headshot by May 1. The forms, the coach’s recommendation form and the video instructions are sent after you submit the application.

Preferred Skills

UNM says its preferred-skills list isn’t required for 2026-27 but is strongly encouraged. It also asks for sharp motions and a loud, spirited, crowd-leading voice.

• Standing tumbling: three back handsprings; a tuck (preferred on hard wood); one or two back handsprings to tuck, layout or full.
• Running tumbling: roundoff three back handsprings; roundoff tuck; roundoff one or two back handsprings to tuck, layout or full. Expect to tumble on turf during football season.
• Multi-base (all-girl) stunts: quick toss or J-up to extension, lib, stretch or arabesque; full-up to platform; switch-up; full around. Strongly preferred: hand-to-hand, back handspring up, rewind, low-to-high full around.
• Single-base (coed) stunts: toss chair, toss hands and toss extension. Strongly preferred: toss platform lib and stretch, full up to platform, low to high, hands full around; elites include hand-to-hand, back handspring up and rewind.
• Flyers should fly both multi-base and single-base stunts. Bases are asked to learn shoulder stands for collegiate pyramids.

Skills you show at tryouts must stay consistent all season.

If You Make the Team

• Summer: in 2026, two mandatory weeks (June 15–19 and June 22–26, with some two-a-days); you need housing for the summer sessions. Regular practices began August 3.
• Practices: Monday and Wednesday, 6–8 a.m., with optional extra sessions toward nationals. UNM expects about 15 hours a week in season, which runs May to March.
• Community hours: 10 in summer, 20 in fall and 15 in spring.
• Costs: every member has a program payment due in June and takes part in fundraising. The Nationals team has its own fundraising schedule.
• Perks: travel to select games and postseason events, a practice facility with a full competition floor, athletic training and strength and conditioning. Members who complete three full seasons may earn a UNM letterman jacket.

Contact

UNM’s staff directory lists Gabriella Rivera as head coach of the Spirit Program. Her email isn’t listed yet, so watch the tryouts page for the next application. Tryout applications and Junior Lobo Cheer registration both go through UNM’s Spirit registration page.

Frequently Asked Questions

When are UNM cheer tryouts? In 2026, applications were due April 14 and in-person tryouts ran May 1–3. Dates for 2027-28 aren’t posted yet.

What GPA do I need? A cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, with full-time enrollment of at least 12 credit hours.

Does it cost anything to try out? In 2026, the application included a $75 nonrefundable fee.

Does UNM cheer compete? Members can audition for a Spirit Nationals team, but UNM says competition is secondary to game day and not guaranteed.

Related Resources

• University of Nevada, Reno Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• UNLV Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• How to Base in Cheerleading
• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory

Sources: UNM Athletics, Lobo Spirit Tryouts, 2026-27 Cheer Tryout Packet (PDF), Program Info and Staff Directory. Last checked September 30, 2026.