Cheer tryouts at Hilliard Weaver Middle School begin Monday, Oct. 19, opening a winter sports season that also includes basketball and wrestling.

The school's athletics department posted the full tryout schedule Oct. 15.

Cheer tryouts run Monday, Oct. 19, through Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 4 to 7 p.m. in both Weaver gyms. Choreography sessions follow Friday, Oct. 23, from 2:45 to 6 p.m. in the auxiliary gym, then 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both Oct. 24 and Oct. 25 to finalize the competition routine. Coaches are Stephanie Kozman for eighth grade and Cherie Painter for seventh grade.

Basketball tryouts open Friday, Oct. 30, per Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) rules. Boys try out Oct. 30 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Oct. 31 from noon to 2 p.m. and Nov. 2 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Girls try out Oct. 31 from 8 to 9:30 a.m., Nov. 1 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. and Nov. 2 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Teams will be selected Monday, Nov. 2, with practice schedules shared afterward. The boys program will field a Flex team this year. The girls program will not, because of low numbers, according to the athletics department.

Coaching assignments: Chris Laslo leads seventh-grade girls, Katie Voisient leads eighth-grade girls, Chuck Boyd coaches seventh-grade boys, Gary Harris coaches eighth-grade boys and Griffin Guetle takes the Flex squad.

Wrestling practice was set to begin Nov. 3 under OHSAA rules, but because Hilliard City Schools has that day off for Election Day, the start will be pushed back. Practices will run Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. in the auxiliary gym once underway. Patrick Madden coaches the combined seventh- and eighth-grade team, with Brad Cummins assisting.

The school is also building a girls wrestling team but said numbers have been low. Seven girls are needed. Until that threshold is met, girls will practice with the boys squad.

Fees and registration: Middle school athletics fees are $80 at the full rate, $40 at the reduced rate and $0 for families who qualify for the free tier. Families in the free category still need to process a $0 payment through MyPaymentsPlus to clear the fee. Fees should be paid before the first or second contest of the season. The first basketball game is Nov. 19 and the first wrestling dual is Dec. 3.

All athletes must be registered through Final Forms before tryouts. Families can sign up at the district's athletics parent page or call the Weaver athletic office at 614-921-7230.