OFFICIAL RECRUIT VIDEO

Prospective student-athletes interested in the Illinois Wesleyan University Spirit Squad are strongly encouraged to submit an Official Recruitment Video. This video helps our coaching staff evaluate your skills and overall fit as a student-athlete when considering offers for a Letter of Intent and a roster spot on the 2025–2026 team.

Your video does not need to be professionally produced — phone videos are perfectly acceptable as long as we can clearly see you. All skills shown should be current and within your ability level as you would perform them at your first practice at IWU.

Suggested video guidelines are listed below.

CHEER TEAM APPLICANTS

0:30 - 1:00

Athlete Introduction

Use this portion of your video to introduce yourself and share a little about who you are. While your skills are important, we also want to see that you are comfortable speaking confidently about yourself — and to learn what makes you, you.

As an IWU Cheerleader, you may be placed in situations where you’ll interact with fans, alumni, and donors. Because of this, it’s important that you can hold conversations with confidence and speak naturally and professionally.

0:15 - 0:45

Standing & Running Tumbling (optional)

Only submit this portion of the video if you have a strong standing tuck and/or a round-off handspring tuck. Standing tumbling series out of a handspring (ex: handspring–handspring–tuck) are encouraged. Specialty running passes that end in a tuck (arabians, whips, etc.) are a bonus. If you have skills beyond a tuck (ex: layout or full), please showcase those at the end of your passes.

All tumbling should be performed on dead mat. If you are working on a skill that you have not yet brought to dead mat, you may show it on spring floor or tumble track — just be sure to clearly indicate which surface you are using before executing.

0:30 - 1:30

Stunting

We would like to see strong technique in fundamental game day stunts — including extensions, liberties, and full-ups — performed in the position you are trying out for. If you have additional elite skills (round-off ups, back handspring ups, inversions, or other spinning skills), we would love to see those as well.

Please clearly indicate your preferred position and showcase as many different skills as possible in that role. If you feel confident contributing in multiple positions (for example, trying out as a top girl but also able to side base), we encourage you to demonstrate those abilities.

Stunting expectations can vary, and we understand that athletes train with partners of different experience levels. We are primarily evaluating your individual technique and performance quality. Difficulty is impressive, but not at the expense of clean, controlled execution. It's not what you do -- it's how you do it.

Your full video submission should be no longer than 3 minutes and 30 seconds (timing may vary slightly depending on tumbling)

Please do not exceed this time limit.

Videos should be uploaded to YouTube or Google Drive, and the link should be emailed directly to Coach Penny Brooks at pbrooks@iwu.edu

DANCE TEAM APPLICANTS

0:30 - 1:00

Athlete Introduction

As an IWU Dancer, you may be placed in situations where you’ll interact with fans, alumni, and donors. Because of this, it’s important that you can hold conversations with confidence and speak naturally and professionally.

0:15 - 0:45

Pirouettes, Leaps, Jumps& Tricks

Use this portion of your video to showcase your technical dance skills, including pirouettes (double preferred), leaps (regular right, right center, calypso preferred), jumps (firebird, toe touch preferred), and any specialty tricks you’d like to highlight. This is also the time to demonstrate your tilt, leg hold, and high kick.

Please only perform skills you are confident executing. If you are working on a skill (ex: aerial) and do not yet have it on a hard floor, you may show it on a mat, spring floor, or tumble track — just clearly state the surface before performing.

1:00 - 1:30

Solo

Showcase who you are as a dancer in a 1:00–1:30 minute solo. This solo can be in any style — it does not need to be in pom or jazz. Use this time to highlight your strengths, including any jumps, tricks, or specialty skills that demonstrate your abilities as a dancer.

Your solo does not need to be original choreography; you may work with a coach or teacher, or reuse a dance you’ve performed previously. However, the video must be recorded within the last month prior to submission — older performances will not be accepted.

Please do not exceed 1 minute and 30 seconds.

Your full video submission should be no longer than 3 minutes and 30 seconds (timing may vary slightly depending on solo)

Please do not exceed this time limit.

Videos should be uploaded to YouTube or Google Drive, and the link should be emailed directly to Coach Penny Brooks at pbrooks@iwu.edu

HIGH SCHOOL TRANSCRIPTS

Please submit your current high school transcript for review by the coaching staff. If you are a transfer student, please submit your most recent college transcript.

A copy can be emailed directly to Coach Penny Brooks at pbrooks@iwu.edu

REFERENCE

While your athletic skills are important, we are equally interested in learning about your character. We are looking for athletes who can be trusted to uphold the standards of our program both on and off the sidelines.

Please submit the Name, Email, Phone Number, and Relationship of your reference to Coach Penny Brooks at pbrooks@iwu.edu

Current coaches are preferred as references.