May 05, 2019 at 02:48AM
In an April 22 video shared on Twitter, the Eagles' first male cheerleader Kyle Tanguay rehearses in a studio at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia to "Dancing With a Stranger," as performed by Sam Smith and Normani. Kyle Tanguay, Submitted Video
Before he learned of any men making NFL cheerleading teams, Kyle Tanguay was ready to take a leap.
He didn't know that teams had begun adding men to their squads when he ran into a friend a year ago who had made the team and inspired him to join. He just knew he wanted to give it a shot.
"I was just like, 'The worst that will happen is they'll say no and then I'll move on,'" Tanguay said Tuesday, thinking back.
Tuesday night, a little over a year later, Tanguay earned a spot on the team. He's the first male Eagles cheerleader and just the fourth ever in the NFL.
Kyle Tanguay performs at the Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader try-out finals. (Photo: Courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles)
Jesse Hernandez of the New Orleans Saints and Napoleon Jinnies and Quinton Peron of the Los Angeles Rams were the first last season.
Tanguay started training and attending Eagles events with his roommate soon after that conversation. He made it through months of audition rounds which culminated in Tuesday night's final, where they both made the team.
"It was lengthy, but it was really awesome," Tanguay said of the audition process. "I actually really appreciated the time that it took because we were able to get close to the other contestants ... Last night it felt like a show."
Tanguay began his dance career at the age of 10 in Rochester, N.H. Now 21, he's a junior studying dance at the University of the Arts with a background in tap, jazz, ballet and hip-hop, to only name a few. He also spent two years on his high school's cheerleading team.
"One thing that I really like about the Eagles is the choreography is so innovative and it really touches on a lot of different fields of dancing and cheer as well," Tanguay said. "So I feel like my training growing up was actually very similar to the movement quality that we did in the audition process."
Kyle Tanguay celebrates after being named a member of the 2019 Philadelphia Eagles cheerleading squad. (Photo: Courtesy of the Philadelphia Eagles)
It wasn't until three years ago that Tanguay became an Eagles fan when he moved to Philadelphia for school. He calls it "the best move ever" and would like to stay in the city after graduation to dance professionally.
When asked about potential detractors, Tanguay urged those skeptical of the decision to add male cheerleaders to keep an open mind.
"I would just say that Philadelphia itself is a really inclusive community," Tanguay said. "I'm really excited to step up and work really hard to keep that spot on the team."
Contact Brandon Holveck at bholveck@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2267. Follow on Twitter @holveck_brandon.
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