Each year, the Oregon State University Cheer and Dance Director, Jasmine Miggins, chooses 40 cheerleaders and dancers to perform at sporting and live events to excite Beaver Nation.  

Miggins is an OSU Dance alum who builds the atmosphere of culture for the squad as she has over 20 years of experience in both. 

Miggins’ job includes choosing the squad members and dividing their talent among the Cheer and Dance teams. Tryouts are required and happen once a year for the squad.  

Team members go through a four-week training camp prior to football season where they learn new material and prepare for the season.

Oregon State Cheer and Dance performs at events for football, basketball, volleyball, and wrestling, and the team might expand to baseball games in the future, according to Miggins.   

Oregon State Cheer and Dance currently does not compete, but instead sticks to giving back to the community, according to Miggins. 

The team puts an emphasis on enjoyable choreography as a public face for OSU athletics, putting on performances during halftime and throughout athletic events.

This year, the routines came from choreography professionals from Portland and Los Angeles. Miggins said she likes to keep it different from what other teams cheer with.

“Becoming unified in all of our different styles has been challenging but it’s very cool to see everyone’s individual styles but then presenting at once together,” said Dance captain Becki Bachleda. 

Bachleda believes that working together is a huge part of being on the team, as they all have to unify their different styles of dance backgrounds into one.  

Rylee Doyle, one of the current Cheer captains, said her experience will benefit her life after college.

“(It) has helped with communication and leadership and set (me) up for a career in the future, even if it doesn’t involve cheer,” Doyle said.