Pitt holds one tryout for its whole Spirit Group, the Cheerleaders and the Dance Team. You apply online and submit a video first, then try out in person. This guide follows the official Cheerleaders and Dance Team Tryouts page on PittsburghPanthers.com. The dates below are from the 2026 cycle (tryouts for the 2026-27 teams). As of September 29, 2026, Pitt hadn’t posted dates for the 2027-28 teams.
The Program
- A coed cheer team. Pitt competes in the Small Coed Division IA at NCA Collegiate Nationals in Daytona Beach. It placed fourth in 2024 and won the national title in 2019. The 2025-26 roster lists 47 cheerleaders.
- Longtime coach. Theresa Nuzzo is Head Coach of the Cheerleaders and Dance Team. The program’s About Us page says she has coached both teams for 42 years.
- Game days. The team cheers with the Oakland Zoo student section at basketball games, and at Acrisure Stadium for football. It also appears at community events, parades and charity events.
How Tryouts Worked in 2026
- Online application and video. Both were due by 5:00 PM on Friday, April 17, 2026. The tryouts page shows the year as 2025, but the application form says 2026.
- Photo and recommendation letter. After applying, you email a full-length photo and one letter of recommendation. Files must be .doc, .jpeg or .pdf, named with your name.
- In-person tryout on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Pitt said the tryout curriculum would be sent out by the end of March, before the application deadline. It also warns that late or incomplete applications and videos “may remove your eligibility” from trying out.
Required Forms
For the 2026 tryout, Pitt asked applicants to email these after applying:
- A physical form from a physician, dated within six months before the tryout (from November 2, 2025 on). Pitt provides a form.
- Sickle cell solubility test results. Tests are available at any Quest Diagnostics center, and fees may apply. Pitt notes that the NCAA now accepts only solubility test results, so most newborn screening results (for example “FA” or “F”) no longer count.
- A copy of the front and back of your medical insurance card.
- The Facilities Release form.
Schedule the physical and the sickle cell test well before the application deadline, so your forms are ready to send.
What Pitt Doesn’t Publish
Pitt’s public tryout page doesn’t list a skills minimum, a GPA requirement or a fee. The skills you’ll be judged on come in the curriculum sent to applicants.
Contact
The Pitt staff directory lists the Cheerleaders & Dance Team office at Victory Heights, phone 412-381-5024. Applications and forms go to the email address on the tryouts page. Pitt Cheer is on Instagram at @pitt_cheer.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are Pitt cheer tryouts? In 2026, applications and videos were due April 17 and the in-person tryout was May 2. Check the tryouts page for the next cycle’s dates.
Do cheer and dance try out together? Pitt runs one Spirit Group application for both teams.
Do I need a sickle cell test? Yes. For 2026, Pitt required solubility test results. Newborn screening results are no longer accepted.
Related Resources
- Penn State University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- University of Virginia Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- Syracuse University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
- College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory
Sources: University of Pittsburgh Athletics, Cheerleaders and Dance Team Tryouts, Cheerleaders and Dance Team: About Us, 2025-26 Cheerleaders Roster, “Pitt Cheerleaders Win National Championship” (2019) and the Staff Directory. Last checked September 29, 2026.
