In the past two years, Auburn junior Jenny Groux said she has more than 10 most memorable times cheering for the Auburn cheerleading squad. She plans to create even more as she enters this year as the new head cheerleader.

Tryouts for the 2010-2011 co-ed squad are March 31 - April 2. Groux remembers watching the cheerleaders her freshman year and wanting to get involved on campus.

“It was something I could do that combined my love for Auburn and sports with something I actually know how to do,” Groux said.

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The chemical engineering major from Madison, Ala., participated in cheerleading through middle school and high school and cheered on an all-star squad for two years.

Groux and last year’s squad are is currently conducting clinics where they teach potential tryouts routines, stunts, dances and cheers that will be judge during tryouts. The clinics are free and continue until March 25.

Applicants must be full-time students at Auburn who have an overall 2.0 grade point average and at least a 2.5 grade point average from the Fall 2009 semester. Tryouts excluded all high school, transfer and first-semester Auburn students.

“It’s a three-day process,” Groux said. “The first day is basically an introduction day when we explain the entire tryout process and rules and expectations for anyone who makes the squad.”

The cheerleaders are expected to cheer at all football and men’s and women’s basketball games. They also cheer at all home volleyball and gymnastic matches.

Away games and tournament trips are a highlight in Groux’s college cheering experience.

“It’s exciting to experience all the different college towns and their traditions,” Groux said. “It always makes me appreciate Auburn that much more.”

Day two is technical day. All potential cheerleaders, males and females, perform in front of a panel of judges with competitive backgrounds.

Among the physical requirements, females must be able to do a back hand-spring, a toe touch, tumbling and more. Males requirements include but are not limited to, being able to do a toss extension and toss shoulders.

If you are trying out for mic man, multiple cheers are required. The candidates for mic man will also be asked by the judges to cheer through three game-day situations.

As head cheerleader, Groux will be doing behind the scenes work and organizing at the tryout.

“After technical tryouts, the judges will decide on a smaller group to get called back the third day for interviews with a different set of judges,” Groux said.

New members are expected to make special appearances and participate in community service.

Hosting pep rallies at local elementary schools and leading charity events are big reasons why she is a cheerleader, Groux said.

“Being able to make someone’s day just by showing up in your uniform is something I have been truly grateful to be a part of

For full information on cheerleading tryouts including applications, dates and judging criteria, go to www.auburn.edu/cheer.