This year’s basketball season will have even more spirit than before as tryouts for the new CMU Poms dance team will take place Monday Dec. 12 at 6 p.m. in the Maverick Center Gym.

Tryouts for the team will be exclusively for the 2012 basketball season, with tryouts for the 2012-2013 school year taking place in April. The CMU Poms team will be coached by Bobbi Springer, and will be under the direction of Cheerleading Coach Athena Whaley.

All dancers wishing to try out must currently be a student at CMU, need to show their GPA, and will also need to bring their own music and four to six prepared eight counts of choreography.

Junior Rachel Maslyk is pleased with the decision to bring a Poms team to CMU. Maslyk danced for the Grand Junction High School Poms Team all four years of high school and is currently volunteering as the GJHS JV Poms coach.

“I think it’s great we’re getting a dance team back,” she said. “I won’t be able to tryout for the basketball season, but hopefully I’ll be ready for April tryouts, especially because I know Bobbi and she’ll be a great coach.”

Judges for the basketball season tryouts will be looking for techniques in motions, kicks, turns, and leaps. Choreography will also be taught at tryouts so appropriate dance clothing and shoes is encouraged. For more information about the Poms team visit www.mesaspiritteams.com/poms.

acastro@mavs.coloradomesa.edu