Cheer Program Information!

IOWA WESTERN CHEERLEADING PROGRAM INFORMATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

I. General Team Information 

II. Perks and Benefits 

III. Eligibility & applying to Iowa Western

IV. Recruiting

V. Prospects 

VI. Camps & Clinics 

VII. Social Media

I. GENERAL TEAM INFORMATION 

Roster 

• Large Coed Competition Team - 24 individuals (approximately 12-14 females & 13-15 males)
• Small Coed Competition Team - 24 individuals (approximately 6 males & 18 females, however, this varies from year to year)
• All Girl Competitive Team - 24 individuals 
• Gameday Cheer Only- 20 individuals 

Spirit Team Purpose 

• Providing team members opportunities for lifelong learning and growth.
• The mission of the Iowa Western Spirit Program is to support all athletics at Iowa Western Community College, promote enthusiasm, and showcase superior sportsmanship. Being our schools acting ambassadors, the program helps to unite the campus community, the alumni, the students, and the metropolitan community at large. 
• The vision of the Iowa Western Spirit Program is one whose teams perform and compete at UCA Collegiate Nationals against other top teams in our division. Our team members exhibit the core values of integrity, academic excellence, and self-motivation. 

Team Culture and Coach Expectations 

• The coaching staff is looking for athletes who show professionalism, respect, loyalty, honesty, have a problem solving mentality, a positive attitude, and are dedicated to working hard. 

Role as an Iowa Western Cheer team member 

• Ambassador and positive role model for Iowa Western Community College
• Crowd leading is the primary focus of the Iowa Western cheerleading team
• Sports we sideline cheer for: Football, Volleyball, Men's basketball, and Women's basketball 
• Team members are required to do community service events throughout the year called Merit Events
• The team travels to select away games for football and post season play 

Practice and Workouts 

• Fall - 4 practices per week & 2 workouts 
• Spring - 3 practices per week & 2 workouts 
• Summer - Pre season report (typically 2 weeks before the fall semester starts)

Competing with Iowa Western 

• Team members have the opportunity to compete at the UCA College Cheerleading National Championship and the University World Cup Championship in Orlando, Florida. 
• 2023 UCA College Cheerleading National Champions!
• Competing since 2004, with a Top 3 finish since 2010 
• World University Champions in 2016, 2023, & 2024

Scholarships 

• Scholarships are awarded during Preseason. 
• Awarded based on skill, merit, grades, and needs. 
• There are also numerous academic scholarship opportunities available based on grades.

II. PERKS & BENEFITS 

Part of Athletic Department 

● The team is part of the Iowa Western Athletic Association 

● Team members are treated as student-athletes 

Student-Athlete housing 

● Cheerleaders have the opportunity to live in the Suites, Village, or Towers on campus at Iowa Western next to other student-athletes. Cheerleaders will be placed together if living on campus.

Strength & Conditioning Coach 

● The team has a dedicated strength coach and workouts are in the Iowa Western Student-Athlete Athletics Facility. 

Tumbling Coach

● The team has a personal tumbling coach that works with the athletes twice a week. 

Athletic Trainer 

● A dedicated athletic trainer is available 24/7 on campus during practice and workouts, and also present at all home games. 

Zero Cost to Cheer 

● Uniforms, practice wear, equipment, traveling, competition, and any other cheer expenses are paid for by Iowa Western and team fundraising. 

Academic Resources 

● Access to priority registration with advisors 

● Free Tutoring 

● Academic Advisor 

● Academic Mentor 

● Access to cyber library on campus

III. ELIGIBILITY & APPLYING TO IOWA WESTERN 

Who Can Be Recruited? 

● Anyone who is, or will be, a full-time student at Iowa Western (12 credit hours)

● Anyone who has received a letter of acceptance (includes incoming freshman and transfer students) 

Academic Acceptance to Iowa Western 

● Prospective students may easily apply at Apply Now 

● It is recommended that incoming Freshman apply no later than January of their Senior year of high school. (not required but highly suggested) 

● If you have applied but have not been accepted (either you have not received a response, you have been denied admission) by February 1st of your Senior year of high school, you definitely need to follow up with admissions to make certain that they have received all of your transcripts, test scores, and support documents. 

Official Campus Tour 

● It is recommended that you schedule a trip to Iowa Western for a campus tour.

● Assistant Coach Henry Leyva is the point of contact for any future cheer member tours. 

● You can set something up with his via email (hleyva@iwcc.edu) 

Meeting with the Coaches 

● If you need to get in touch with a coach, you can email Henry Leyva (hleyva@iwcc.edu)

IV. Recruiting

We are no longer holding Tryouts. If you are interested in being recruited, please send an email to Coach Sam: sdarnall@iwcc.edu.

Recruit Evaluation 

● Each prospective cheerleader will be evaluated on the following: 

❏ Standing tumbling on a regular cheer floor (NOT spring floor) 

➢ Examples: Standing back tuck, standing back handspring back 

tuck 

❏ Running tumbling on a regular cheer floor (NOT a spring floor) 

➢ Examples: Round off back handspring tuck 

❏ Stunts (Coed or All-Girl) 

➢ Extension 

➢ Liberty 

➢ Cupie 

➢ Heel Stretch full down to cradle 

➢ If you have a great deal of stunting experience you may be given 

permission by the coach to add difficulty in how you get into or out 

of these stunts. It will be the coaches determination based on your 

skill and you must follow the AACCA safety guidelines. 

❏ Iowa Western Fight Song 

❏ Ability to lead and engage a crowd in a collegiate manner 

❏ Interview with the coaches 

Method of Evaluation 

● The team is selected by the coaching staff at Iowa Western. 

V. PROSPECTS 

● Do research - Read through the information in this document. Follow us on social media.

● Reach out to Assistant Coach Henry Leyva via email. (hleyva@iwcc.edu)

● Attend one of our stunt clinics

VI. CAMPS AND CLINICS 

● We traditionally host 1 Fall clinic and 2 clinics throughout the Spring.

● Follow us on Social Media for updates on dates.

VII. SOCIAL MEDIA 

● Tag us and send us videos if you want!

● Twitter: @ReiverCheer 

● Instagram: @reivercheer 

● Facebook: Iowa Western Cheerleading