Grizzly Cheer Team clinics, tryouts set

Dates have been set for Grizzly Cheer Team clinics and tryouts at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP).

Clinics will be 5 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 29, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the Student Recreation Center, 323 W. Trish Knight St., on the MSU-WP campus.

Tryouts will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at the recreation center. Seven men, seven women and one mascot will be chosen at this time.

The clinics and tryouts are open to area high school seniors and current and incoming MSU-WP students. No experience is necessary to be on the team.

What you will learn

Cheer team hopefuls must attend at least one of these two clinics to try out for the squad, Cheer Team Coach Kristen McFarland said.  Attendance at both clinics is preferred, she added.

In addition to preparing for tryouts, these sessions will give student athletes the opportunity to learn more about the demands of college cheerleading and begin learning the basics necessary to be successful collegiate cheerleaders, McFarland said.

"We would like any and all area high school seniors, men and women, interested in becoming a Grizzly cheerleader to attend the clinics and tryout," McFarland said.

"We also invite any current Missouri State-West Plains students who are interested in cheerleading," she added. "Former Grizzly cheerleaders who would like to help with the clinics and tryouts are welcome to attend, as well."

Cheer team members will receive a $1,000 scholarship each year for being part of the team, McFarland said.

The cheer team attends home games for both the Grizzly volleyball and Grizzly basketball teams, as well as some away games and community and university events.

For more information, including tryout requirements, contact McFarland at 417-429-5577 or visit the group's Facebook fan page, Facebook.com/GrizzlyCheerTeam.