Despite not always being recognized for their efforts, Iowa State’s spirit squad is a vital part of ISU athletics.

Divided into three teams – the cheer, pom and mascot squads – the squad is more than 50 members strong. Those members are expected to show up to games and other events to encourage the teams and fans.

“Our job is to support athletics and help fans give support at every game,” said pom squad captain Melissa Mahan. “We smile, even when things get tough.”

Mahan, senior in psychology, shares the role of captain with Stacy Locker, junior in elementary education.

Though fielding busy schedules, the 20 members practice nine hours per week, not including games.

“We practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights from six to nine, though we never know where we’ll practice,” Mahan said.

Last year, the squad made their first trip to Nationals in Daytona, Fla., where they placed 17th. This year, they hope to improve.

“We are very competitive. Our main goal this year is to make finals at Nationals for sure,” Mahan said.

“Last year, we choreographed our own routine. This year, we have hired someone.”

“Being on the squad as a captain has given me leadership and decision-making skills,” she said. “It has changed my perspective on leaders. Being one is harder than I thought.”

The pom squad is helped in their quest to spread school spirit by the two other groups that make up the spirit squad, the cheer squad and the mascots.

Mike Vaughn, senior in transportation logistics and marketing, is the mascot captain. In his four years as a mascot, he has learned “that it never hurts to give someone a hug, and who better to hug than a big red bird?”

Six members make up the squad. The cheer squad captains are Amanda Olsasky, junior in business, and Dirk Mongreig, senior in architecture. The two are part of the 14 varsity members and 11 junior varsity members.

Although all squads work together, cheer squad coach Misty Hade said the mascots are set apart from the other squads. Hade also organizes the mascots.

“Mascots are always in the crowd mingling with the fans, taking pictures and are involved in some timeouts,” she said.

Hade said the mascots are different because they are in full costume, interacting with the fans while the cheer squad stays mainly on the court.

Like the pom and cheer squads, the mascots also attend camp.

“There is a camp that helps the mascots develop their walk, learn how to interact with crowds and develop their own style and personality,” Hade said.

Hade said although the cheer squad is “in a rebuilding stage,” they’re looking towards the future.

“We have not competed on any level, but look forward to doing so in the near future,” she said.

The requirements to join the spirit squad will be changing with the next tryout. In the past, students had to maintain full-time enrollment as well as a 2.0 grade point average. Now, the requirement will be raised to 2.25.

Each squad has their own tryout standards.

Jill Petersen, pom squad coach, said the tryouts for the pom squad include learning the fight song and performing a one minute routine that incorporates jazz, funk and pom style dancing.

“They also need to show the technical aspects like the turns, leaps, jumps and splits,” she said.

At tryouts, mascots must walk, do an improvisational piece and a skit. They are judged on those as well as their personalities while in the suit, Hade said.

The cheer squad is required to partner stunt, tumble, jump and do a cheer as well as the fight song.

The spirit squad appears at football games, men’s and women’s basketball games, volleyball, gymnastic and wrestling events. They are also available to make appearances at other events.