Boise State Spirit Squad Racks Up Titles and Opens Tryout Clinics
The squad has captured ten collegiate championships since 1993 while preparing recruits for the 2027-28 roster.
By Aiko Nakamura ·
Boise State's Spirit Squad competes for national titles while recruiting its next team.
The squad has collected ten collegiate championships since 1993. Mane Line, the dance subteam, took first place in jazz and hip-hop at the 2025 National Dance Alliance College Dance Championships in Daytona, its highest division. Head coach Erik Lindgren said the program's competitive record draws interest: "We are a big gameday school and we also compete at the national level." The group also performs at the Universal Cheerleaders Association College Cheerleading Championships in Orlando and performs on The Blue during football games. Boise State lists 66 students across three subteams: the cheer squad, Mane Line, and the gameday mascot, Buster Bronco. Boise State athletics categorizes cheer and Mane Line members as student-athletes, though the Spirit Squad is not an NCAA sport.
The squad trains year-round. Cheer and Mane Line athletes typically practice four days a week, with two joint sessions covering sideline segments, halftime numbers, and nationals routines. Lindgren said recruitment for the 2027-28 team began with a clinic on Oct. 4. Another clinic followed on Nov. 15. Prospective cheerleaders work through tumbling, stunts, and sideline routines at the clinics. Dancers perform across-the-floor combinations that coaches watch for technique, flexibility, jumps, and leaps. Lindgren said coaches emphasize turns because of Mane Line's jazz results at nationals.
The clinics are open to high school seniors, college transfers, and Boise State students. Boise State freshman Aurelia Vasquez said she has attended clinics since her junior year of high school. "I've been prepping for years," Vasquez said. Mane Line captain Manhattan Tibbott said many prospects do not make the team on their first attempt and train with squad members before trying again. Tibbott said squad members run the outreach to prospective dancers. "We don't have the final say on who makes the team and all, but .. we are definitely the one outreaching, posting about the clinics, reaching out to girls," Tibbott said. Cheer captain Macy Jenkins said clinic participants join the squad in stunting, tumbling, and the fight song.
The final recruitment clinic for the 2027-28 season is set for Nov. 11.
Source: The Arbiter (Boise State) · original report published
