Xavier Cheerleading and Mascots
2025-26 SEASON TRYOUTS
Cheer
Dates: August 19-21
Time: 7-9PM
Where: Cintas Center Auxiliary Gym
Fall tryouts are only for new or incoming students, not returning squad members.
Mascots
Open Gym Date: August 20
Time: 7-9PM
Tryout Date: August 27
Time: 7-9PM
Where: Cintas Center Auxiliary Gym
Cheerleading and Mascot Tryout Protocols: 2025-26
New Candidates: those who were not a member of the Xavier 2024-2025 cheerleading squad or were not a mascot during 2024-2025: Secure a physical from their physician who is asserting that there is nothing that would prohibit that student from participating in cheer, and the gymnastics/tumbling that accompany cheer. Complete the Cheer Tryout Packet (AOR, ETW, Demo) AND e prepared to give veral confirmation of a physical within the last 12 months as well as having a copy of your insurance card.
Cheerleading Tryout Routine & Requirements
Women will be asked to perform:
- Display of spirit, enthusiasm, smiles, loud voices, and sharp motions.
- Sideline Chants (video to be posted to @XUcheerleading social media one week in advance of tryouts)
- Fight Song (video to be posted to @XUcheerleading social media one week in advance of tryouts)
- Dance (to be taught at clinics)
- Successfully complete a fitness assessment, including the following:
- A timed, one-mile run
- Timed push-ups and sit-ups
- Tumbling, with correct form:
- standing back handspring (required for Blue squad; preferred for White squad)
- standing back tuck (preferred for Blue squad)
- standing back handspring back tuck (preferred for Blue squad)
- round-off back handspring (required for Blue squad; preferred for White squad)
- round-off back handspring series (required for Blue squad; preferred for White squad)
- round-off back handspring back tuck (preferred for Blue Squad)
- round-off back tuck (preferred for Blue squad)
- elite tumbling pass
- Stunting with correct form:
- Group:
- Stunt #1 Straight up Extensions / Pump-and-Go
- Stunt #2 Retakes / Power Press / Transition Stunt
- Stunt #3 Optional one-legged Stunt (Liberty, Torch, Arabesque, Scale, Scorpion)
- Group:
Men will be asked to perform:
- Display of spirit, enthusiasm, smiles, loud voices, and sharp motions
- Sideline chant motions (video to be posted to @XUcheerleading social media one week in advance of tryouts)
- Tumbling (preferred but not required) with correct form
- Successfully complete a fitness assessment, including the following:
- A timed, one-mile run
- Timed push-ups and sit-ups
- Stunting with correct form:
- Co-Ed:
- Stunt #1 Chair
- Stunt #2 Hands (Toss, Chair-to or Walk-In)
- Stunt #3 Optional (Chair/Hands, Shoulder Stand, Extension, Liberty, Heel Stretch, Torch, Arabesque, Scale, Scorpion) OR back-spot a group stunt
- Co-Ed:
Important Information:
- Please let the coaches know if you can successfully perform more than one position in stunts (example: top and base). You may be asked to do a different position throughout the year other than the one you tried out for. Tryouts are to assess skills and future potential.
- Coaches reserve the right to make changes for any reason if necessary.
- Selected Xavier University Cheerleader cheer for both Men's (Blue squad) and Women's (White squad) Basketball along with several Volleyball and Soccer games.
- Attire: Women - form fitting clothing - dark shorts (Navy or Black) and light shirt (White or Gray), gameday makeup and hair sleek parted ponytail with bow and no loose pieces. Men - Shorts and T-Shirt (not too baggy). Xavier colors or apparel only.
- Anyone trying out must submit the tryout application form with all required attachments (a headshot, an official, printed copy of Fall 2025 schedule (if available) and current GPA for the coaches to review and maintain for their records.
If you have any questions prior to tryouts please contact us at cheerleading@xavier.edu
Cheerleading at Xavier
Xavier University cheerleaders are an important part of Xavier Athletics. Xavier Cheerleaders have become a vocal presence at all Xavier men's and women's basketball games as well as in the community. Each year, the co-ed cheerleading squad participates in annual fundraising efforts including appearances and much more. The Xavier University Cheerleaders attend all men's and women's home basketball games, the BIG EAST Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. The squad also attends many soccer and volleyball games in an effort to support a variety of Xavier University’s Division I athletic programs. The coaching staff has a combined twenty plus years of coaching experience and they strive to continually improve the program each year.
Mascot Requirements
D'Artagnan
- 30 seconds of dancing to music
- 5' 7" or taller
- Flag running/waving
Blue Blob
- 30 seconds of dancing to music
- 5' 6" or shorter
- 3 full rolls
Mascot History
D'Artagnan
D'Artagnan serves as the official mascot of the Xavier University athletic teams. The legendary mascot has gone through many changes over the years, but his powerful presence remained when the most recent version of the Musketeer was unveiled at the start of the 2004-05 basketball season.
The Musketeer concept was based on the suggestion of the late Reverend Francis J. Finn, S.J., a member of the Xavier University Board of Trustees for many years until his death in 1928. In response to a directive from the Trustees, Father Finn proposed the name Musketeers in 1925. It was adopted and has been a Xavier designation ever since.
In naming the Musketeers, Father Finn was not only giving rebirth to a concept of chivalry that is among France's most treasured traditions, but he was also providing permanent recognition to Xavier's strong ties with French origins and culture.
The first priest, and one of the first Europeans to navigate the Ohio River past the site that was to become Cincinnati, was a Jesuit from French Canada named the Rev. Joseph Pierre de Bonnecamps. He was a scientist and mathematician from the College of Quebec, who made the trip in 1749. It is said that to him Ohio owes the first map of her boundaries.
Among the first students at Xavier in the decade of the 1830's were French-speaking young men from Louisiana who were forbidden by the college regulations to use their family tongue during recreation lest they fail to learn the English language.
The first Jesuit Priest of Xavier, in 1840, was Father John Anthony Elet, a native of the French-speaking provinces of Belgium.
The great patron of the University, St. Francis Xavier, a native of Spain, received his university education at the College of St. Barbe at the University of Paris and he helped found the Jesuit Order in Paris in 1540.
So, as Father Finn reasoned, the Musketeer, a dedicated guard of the King of France, was a fine symbol of the qualities that should inspire the students and particularly the athletic teams at Xavier University.
Blue Blob
The Blue Blob serves as a secondary mascot for the Xavier University athletic teams. The Blob is well known for being able to excite the crowd and is a favorite among the younger Musketeer fans. Perhaps one of the greatest memories of the Blob occurred when it was tackled by Theo Nelson following his made half-court shot to win one million dollars at the 2001 Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout. Nelson and the Blue Blob were even featured on SportsCenter that evening following the game.