Tryouts Are May 9. Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Gem City’s All-Star Cheer Program
Gem City’s nationally ranked all-star cheer program will soon hold tryouts for the 2026–2027 season. We’re fielding a Level 1 Elite squad (ages 7–15) and a Level 2 Elite squad (ages 12–18). Both are co-ed and neither requires prior cheer experience, but there are minimum skill requirements, and tryouts are competitive.
Tryouts are Saturday, May 9 from 8:30–10:30 a.m. Tryouts are closed, meaning parents can wait in the lobby or drop off and return at 10:30. That said, a parent must be present at the start to complete paperwork — athletes cannot tryout without signed forms in hand.
To request more information ahead of tryouts, email gemcitytumbling@gmail.com or call 217.224.8491 before May 1.
Want to prepare? Come to the clinics first.
We’re running three pre-tryout clinics on April 18, April 25, and May 2. Each one runs from 8:30–10:30 a.m. Cost is $25 per clinic, pre-registration is required, and they’re open to members and non-members ages 6–18. Coaches will walk athletes through basic stunts, jumps, and tumbling, and give a real look at how all-star cheer works. If you’re planning to tryout, attending all three gives you the best shot at being prepared.
What does the season look like?
Athletes who make a squad can expect:
- 3–4 hours of practice per week. (Attendance is mandatory — it’s a team sport)
- Weekly tumbling classes
- 3–5 competitions across a season that runs May 2026 through April 2027
- A required choreography weekend in summer where the team learns its new routine: Level 2 Elite on June 5–7, Level 1 Elite on July 24–26.
Uniforms (bow, shoes, skirt, shirt, and jacket) are an out-of-pocket purchase. Factor that into your decision before tryouts.
Ready to learn more?
Email gemcitytumbling@gmail.com or call 217.224.8491. Information requests are accepted now through May 1.
