Iowa State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams aren’t the only squads preparing for upcoming Big 12 and NCAA tournaments.

“The pom squad has prepared three dance routines, one for each halftime show for the men’s games,” said Erica Henry, spirit coordinator for the cheer and pom-pon squads. “The cheer squads have been practicing with the band for cheers during timeouts.”

This is the first year the entire cheer and pom squads will be going to the Big 12 Tournament.

In the past, both teams have consisted of 16- or 18-person teams each, but this year the squads only have 12 members on each team.

“Before this year, [the squads] have just been advised, but now they are coached,” Henry said. “I wanted this year to be a better showing.”

For the men’s basketball team, 12 cheerleaders and 11 pom-pon squad members will be present at the Big 12 Tournament. Twelve cheerleaders and one mascot will represent Iowa State at the women’s Big 12 Tournament.

Jada Muhammed, a captain for the pom squad, had the chance to cheer in one game in last year’s Big 12 Tournament, but was disappointed that she didn’t get the chance to cheer the championship game.

With more seniority, she is looking forward to this year’s performance.

“I hope we can win again,” Mohammed said. “I am looking forward to cheer the team on to victory this year, too.”

There is no pom squad for the women’s basketball team.

If the men’s team makes the NCAA Tournament, six cheerleaders, six pom squad members and one mascot will travel to the games.

They are limited to six on each team because only 13 squad members are allowed to come along.

A full squad of cheerleaders and Cy will cheer the women on if they make it to the NCAAs.

Henry said the selection process for these members is based on seniority.

Besides cheering on the court in the Big 12 Tournament, the two squads also participate in some off-court “spreading of good cheer.” On the Saturday morning during tournament week, each team will send its cheer and pom squads to the local children’s hospital and visit patients.

Try-outs for the cheer squads are also coming soon. They will begin about two weeks after the NCAA Tournament is over, which usually falls around the end of March or the beginning April, depending on how successful the Cyclones are.