 "Photo: Ramona Flume")
Malori Wofford approached the 30-yard line, focused her eyes on the opposite side of the field, took a deep breath and began sprinting. She leapt in the air, flipped her body backwards in a complete circle and landed firmly on her feet.
The incoming freshman has had trouble executing a back tuck, but at Friday's cheerleading tryouts at the Frank Denius Fields, she landed almost every flip.
Wofford was one of 30 hopefuls who tried out Friday for UT's coed orange cheerleading squad. About 10 to 12 students will make the orange squad, but those who do not can try out for other University spirit squads.
"This is the smallest tryout, and they're only by invites, so congratulations for making it this far," said Jeff Dieta, cheerleading coordinator.
UT's cheerleading tryout process is different from most other Division 1 schools, because the atmosphere is less procedural - there are no judges, and it is more like a regular practice session.
"We want to get a sense of how you interact with everyone," Dieta said.
The tryouts began with 45 minutes of tumbling, after which the students were separated into two groups - one practiced stunts while the other learned the Texas Fight Song.
Veteran cheerleaders, distinguished by their Texas cheer T-shirts, helped male candidates lift the females in the air with one arm as the girls balanced on one leg, nervous smiles and shaky hands giving away their emotions.
Education freshman and veteran cheerleader Lauren Farmer coached the male candidates in the air as she balanced on the palms of their hands, giving them words of encouragement or corrections.
"At this point, I have no idea who will be on the team," orange squad assistant captain Shelley Allen said as her eyes followed girls flying in the air. "But everyone is really talented."
Most of the male candidates came from one of the four coed Texas high school cheerleading squads. Dieta, a former cheerleader, said some had never cheered in their lives.
"In Texas, football rules, so guys won't become cheerleaders until college," he said.
Each candidate must be individually interviewed to assess the way they carry themselves, Dieta said. They are asked to rate themselves on a scale of one to 10 to gauge their confidence level.
Wofford said meeting new people with whom she may cheer for the next four years is a new experience, because she grew up in Tyler, a small community.
She woke up Friday morning feeling a little nervous, but she has experience competing in national cheerleading competitions and has been a gymnast for most of her life. However, her nerves kicked in as Denius Fields became visible from the highway.
"We drove four hours to be here today, and I wasn't nervous at all," Wofford said. "But as soon as I saw the bubble, I realized what I was about to do and got butterflies."
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