Lee Trudell didn't start cheerleading until he arrived on campus at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee about 20 years ago—but he's been hooked ever since, touring the world to entertain fans and educate future cheerleaders.
"It just looked like a fun thing to do in front of people—flip around and lead a crowd," said Trudell, who was first intrigued by the sport as a senior in high school in his native Wisconsin. "I just enjoyed the athleticism, the creativity. There's just an enthusiasm and spirit with cheerleaders that's so positive."
Trudell spent two years as a college cheerleader, and even was on the sidelines for a Wisconsin-Milwaukee basketball upset win over intra-state rival Wisconsin-Madison.
Also while in college, Trudell met a cheerleader friend from a rival university. She worked for a company that taught summer camps, so he auditioned and made the summer staff at the camp.
That involved tours throughout the Midwest for cheerleading, and then across America, and eventually worldwide, including a month teaching cheerleading in Japan.
He also has traveled to London, Paris, Jamaica and elsewhere for cheerleading.
"I never expected [cheering] to turn into a career, which it has, nor to travel to the extent that I have [due to cheering], nor make the friendships that I have, or to affect lives the way I have."
Trudell, 39, who lives in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, has taught cheer for almost two decades—and some of his former students from his early years are now parents and coaches themselves, and they bring their children to Trudell for coaching.
"Going to Japan [in mid-1999] and staying for a month, after really never leaving the Midwest, that was amazing," said Trudell, who was teaching Japanese students with a Japanese cheerleading company. He did not know how to speak Japanese at the time, and has not retained much of what he learned.
"It was amazing to experience so much of Japan. They didn't understand [English] but they understood based on how we taught, the motions, the facial expressions, etc. That crossed the language barrier."
Trudell's cheerleading career also has taken him five times to London, even to perform at the city's New Year's Day parade. "Their reaction to 1,200 cheerleaders coming down the street in London was unbelievable," he said. "Doing a partner stunt in front of Tower Bridge was an awesome experience.
"To take the kids to London, to do something that they may never do again, and expose them to a different culture; that was neat."
He also has performed in front of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
"When I see cheerleaders on ESPN, it always sparks something; that's always nice," said Trudell, who has been active for years as a cheering judge and event organizer.
He now is a cheering consultant for various schools, working with their choreography, rules and more. He mostly works with high schools across the Midwest, and by the fall, several Chicago schools, including Evanston Township High School.
In June, Trudell started teaching recreational cheerleading classes in Wicker Park, where young and old alike learn from a 20-year professional cheerleader—even though he may break the stereotype of what a cheerleader looks like.
"Cheerleading definitely is still fun. I like working with kids; I like teaching kids, help them have new experiences," said Trudell, who also, for the past two years, has been a doorman at Sidetrack in Lakeview. "Some people [at Sidetrack] know that I'm involved in cheerleading, have been involved in cheerleading, but I'm sure they don't think about it much because, well, I don't look like a stereotypical cheerleader.
"But cheerleading has been a huge, positive part of my life."
And yes, several times over the past couple years, Trudell has been approached at Sidetrack by students he once taught in cheer.
"I enjoy the fact that I'm not what someone would envision as a cheerleader," Trudell said, smiling. "If I send someone an email [about cheering], they usually think it is coming from a woman who is petite and blonde, but I'm not. I'm a guy who's bearded, grey and gay—and I think that's great for everyone to understand that everyone is different."
Trudell teaches at various studios in Chicago and hopes to have his own training center in the city within a few years. He can be reached at cheerleadingchicago@gmail.com .
