Boise State Spirit Squad Targets 2027-28 Roster After 2025 Dance Titles

Boise State athletics is rebuilding its Spirit Squad for the 2027-28 season following a historic 2025 campaign. The Mane Line dance team won first place in both jazz and hip-hop at the National Dance Alliance College Dance Championships in Daytona. This marked the first time the program secured dual national titles in the highest division of the competition.

The Spirit Squad holds ten collegiate championships since 1993. The team competes at two major national events: the Universal Cheerleaders Association College Cheerleading Championships in Orlando and the National Dance Alliance College Dance Championships in Daytona. Head coach Erik Lindgren noted that the 2025 victories have increased interest in the program. He described Boise State as a big game day school that competes at the national level.

The squad consists of 66 students divided into three subteams. These groups include the cheer squad, the Mane Line dance team, and the gameday mascot, Buster Bronco. Lindgren works for the marketing team in the athletic department. Boise State classifies Mane Line and cheerleading students as student-athletes. This status exists despite the Spirit Squad not being recognized as an official NCAA sport.

Recruitment for the 2027-28 team began on Oct. 4. The Spirit Squad holds clinics to identify high school seniors, college transfers, and current Boise State students. A second clinic is scheduled for Nov. 15. The final recruitment event will take place on Nov. 11. These sessions allow coaches to evaluate technique, flexibility, jumps, and leaps.

Cheer Captain Macy Jenkins said the clinics mirror the structure of regular practices. Participants perform stunts, tumbling, and sideline routines. Dancers execute across the floor routines where coaches assess technical skills. Lindgren said coaches place the highest emphasis on turns. This focus aligns with Mane Line's success in jazz routines at national competitions.

Many prospective members attend clinics starting in their junior year of high school. Boise State freshman Aurelia Vasquez said she has prepped for years. She attends these events to dance for hours daily. Mane Line dance captain Manhattan Tibbott noted that many athletes do not make the team on their first attempt. Tibbott said members often train with those who do not make the cut to prepare for the following year's tryout.

The team trains four days a week. Sessions focus on sideline segments, halftime numbers, and preparation for national championships. Lindgren said the program operates under the motto Protect the Program. He explained that this reminds members they represent something larger than themselves. Lindgren said athletes should hold pride in representing the team whether they are in practice, in class, or at the mall.