Open Practices in the Aux Gym 

• Thursday March 19, Tuesday March 31, Thursday April 2 

• Current High School Students: 6:30-8:00 pm 

• 8th Grade Students: 5:00-6:30 pm

•  We will warm up, stretch, jump, go over motion technique, do tumbling drills, and learn to stunt. Beginners are encouraged. Come check it out and bring friends!

• Enter the Aux Gym through the North Door - near the C-Hall entrance (old gym entrance) and student parking lot off of Liberty Street.

Optional (Encouraged) Pre-Tryout Clinics: in the Aux Gym 

• April 7 and 9 from 6:00-8:00 pm.

• Enter the Aux Gym through the North Door - near the C-Hall entrance (old gym entrance) and student parking lot off of Liberty Street.

• Current high school students and 8th graders will practice in separate spaces.

Tryouts- Friday, April 10, 1:00-5:00 pm

• • Tryouts will take place in small groups. Athletes will be informed, in person, of their team placement before leaving tryouts. 

  • Tryouts will consist of: running tumbling, standing tumbling, jumps (toe touch and choice of two others- returners must do a double jump), standing tumbling, chant, and fight song (8th graders and males may opt out of the fight song).

  • Team placement will take into account grades, attitude, school behavior, and teacher recommendations, as well as tryout skill performance. 

  • Tryouts will be judged by a panel of coaches and former cheer coaches. Graduating seniors will be asked to help lead tryout clinics, but will not be on the tryout panel or decide team placement.

  • What to Wear: Shorts, athletic top or t-shirt, and athletic or cheer shoes. Any colors are fine. Hair in a high pony (or half up if too short). Bow is optional, but encouraged. 

  • There will be downtime while you're waiting to perform and hear your team placement. Feel free to bring snacks, books, headphones, etc. 

  • If you are unable to attend tryouts please contact Mrs. Wadlow about submitting a video tryout. 

Tryout Steps:

• Step 1: Athletes and Parents- Read our 2026/27 Cheer Handbook. This is full of information about what to expect next year. Pay special attention to attendance requirements, costs, and dates. 

• Step 2: Turn in a Sports Physical form to the West Albany front office (if current West student) or Coach Wadlow (if not current West student). If you have a physical on file it is valid for two years from the examination date. Please double check that it will be valid through March 2027.

  • You will need to take this OSAA exam form to your physician’s office when getting your student’s sports physical.  Physical examinations are only good for two years from the date of the examination. Follow this link. 

• Step 3: Fill out Cheer Application- Due Monday, April 6

  • Link to application HERE.

• Step 4: Check out our Resources Page for videos that will help you to prepare for tryouts. 

• Step 5: Attend Tryout Clinics- Open to West Albany students and current 8th graders. Participants will learn the tryout material and practice motions, jumps, tumbling. Attendance is highly recommended (if you have a schedule conflict and have communicate in advance with Coach Wadlow). Wear athletic clothes and athletic or cheer shoes. 

• Step 6: Tryouts- Friday, April 10, 1:00-5:00 pm. 

  • Tryouts will take place in small groups. Athletes will be informed, in person, of their team placement before leaving tryouts. 

  • Tryouts will consist of: running tumbling, standing tumbling, jumps (toe touch and choice of two others- returners must do a double jump), standing tumbling, chant, and fight song (8th graders and males may opt out of the fight song).

  • Team placement will take into account grades, attitude, school behavior, and teacher recommendations, as well as tryout skill performance. 

  • Tryouts will be judged by a panel of coaches and former cheer coaches. Graduating seniors will be asked to help lead tryout clinics, but will not be on the tryout panel or decide team placement.

  • What to Wear: Shorts, athletic top or t-shirt, and athletic or cheer shoes. Any colors are fine. Hair in a high pony (or half up if too short). Bow is optional, but encouraged. 

• Step 7 (if you are placed on a team): Mandatory Parent and Athlete Team Meeting

  • Thursday, April 16 from 7:15-8:00 pm in the Aux Gym- Enter through the North Door - near the C-Hall entrance (old gym entrance) and student parking lot off of Liberty Street.

  • We will discuss team details and kick off our Sponsorship Drive and Krispy Kreme Donut fundraiser. 

  • From 8:00-9:00 pm we will have uniform fitting. Parents can go home or wait in their car/gym.

  • $300 uniform deposit due at meeting.