Western Kentucky University recruits its cheerleaders through an application and video first. Athletes who pass that step get an invitation to the rest of the process. This guide follows the official WKU Cheer Tryouts page on WKUSports.com. The most recent posted cycle is 2026-27. As of September 29, 2026, WKU hadn’t posted the 2027-28 application or deadline.

The Program

• Two teams: a Large Coed team and an All-Girl team. WKU recruits males, top girls, bases and backspots.
• Competition: both teams compete in Division IA at UCA College Nationals in Orlando, performing traditional routines.
• National titles: D1A All-Girl in 2021 and 2023, and D1A Small Coed in 2022.
• Game days: home football (with chances to travel), home volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball. The teams also travel to some away games, bowl games and tournaments.
• Coaches: Alli Lumpkin, Head Cheerleading Coach and Spirit Program Coordinator since August 2020, and Assistant Cheerleading Coach Brooklyn Willis.
• Conference: WKU plays in Conference USA.

How Recruitment Worked for 2026-27

1. Application and video. Complete the Cheer Recruitment Application and paste in a link to your video (for example, a private YouTube video). For 2026-27, the deadline was February 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CT.
2. Admission. To be eligible, you also had to be formally accepted into the university.
3. Invitation. WKU shares further tryout information only with applicants it invites into the recruitment process.

Video Rules

• Follow USA Cheer guidelines. Film horizontally, with no music.
• Clips must be from the last two months. Include one clip per skill only.
• Footage from workshops, camps, combines or clinics isn’t accepted.
• Attire: women wear a black fitted top, black shorts, a red ribbon, a curled mid ponytail and game-day makeup with red lipstick. Men wear a black T-shirt and black shorts.

What to Include, in Order

1. Introduction (30–45 seconds): your name, the team you’re trying out for, your stunt position, hometown, cheer team or gym, and why you want to cheer at WKU and attend the university.
2. Tumbling (on grass, turf or a dead floor): standing back tuck; round-off back handspring full (or your best running pass); your specialty standing pass, including a standing full; and your specialty running pass (for example whips, Arabian, full to full).
3. Coed game-day stunts: toss extension, toss immediate lib, toss heel stretch, toss cupie and full up.
4. All-girl game-day stunts: full up, low-to-high full around and high-to-high full around, in one sequence.
5. Basic flipping stunts (three or more): front handspring up, back handspring or back handspring full up, rewind, hand in hand.
6. Elite flipping stunts (three or more, optional): for example front handspring 1.5, back handspring full or double up, rewind variations, and inversions. WKU doesn’t recommend this section if your basic flipping skills aren’t solid.

Benefits and Time Commitment

• Scholarship: once on the roster, athletes receive $2,000 per academic year, plus out-of-state tuition waivers so tuition is similar to the in-state rate.
• Support: a sport-specific athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach, TOPCARE mental health access, and practice gear, travel shoes and backpacks.
• Weekly schedule: practice three days a week (nationals practices differ), workouts two to three times a week, and study hours based on your year and GPA.

What WKU Doesn’t Publish

The tryout page doesn’t state a GPA minimum or a tryout fee.

Contact

For all questions about WKU Cheer, email Head Coach Alli Lumpkin at alli.lumpkin@wku.edu. WKU Cheer is on Instagram at @wkucheer.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the WKU cheer application due? For 2026-27, it was due February 1, 2026. Check the tryouts page for the 2027-28 deadline.

Do I have to be admitted to WKU first? Yes. For 2026-27, applicants had to be formally accepted into the university to be eligible.

Does WKU Cheer offer scholarships? Yes. Rostered athletes receive $2,000 per academic year, plus out-of-state tuition waivers.

Related Resources

• University of Kentucky Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Middle Tennessee State University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• Eastern Kentucky University Cheerleading Tryout Guide
• How to Film a Cheer Tryout Video
• College Cheerleading Tryout Guides Directory

Sources: Western Kentucky University Athletics, Cheer Tryouts, Cheerleading information, Alli Lumpkin bio, Staff Directory and “WKU All-Girl Cheer Brings Home Second Championship in Three Years” (2023). Last checked September 29, 2026.