Last modified: Saturday, April 3, 2004 7:10 PM EST Something to cheer about BY JOHN WINTERS / SUN CHRONICLE STAFF FOXBORO -- Standing in the place where Tom Brady practiced his Super Bowl-winning moves, Kathleen McGonagle, was hoping to put on a few moves of her own. The Foxboro native was one of nearly 400 young women who came from throughout the region Saturday to the practice facility at Gillette Stadium to audition for one of 24 slots on the 2004 New England Patriots Cheerleading Squad. `` I'm a huge Patriots' fan, and if I could get paid to be on the sidelines, that would be great,'' said the 2002 Foxboro High School graduate, who now lives in Somerville and attends Emerson College. Each year, the cheerleading team holds tryouts. Included in the ranks of the hopefuls are the current Patriots' cheerleaders. Tracy Sormanti, cheerleader director and choreographer, said that each year even members of the current squad have to try out and win their spots back. `` It keeps them fresh,'' she said. Sormanti said it was thanks to the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXVIII win over the Carolina Panthers on Feb. 1 that this year's crop of hopefuls was the largest ever. The women on Saturday came from as far away as Connecticut and New Hampshire to strut their stuff as they learned and performed two routines for judges. Rehoboth's Myla Acquaviva, 25, who works at Fleet Bank in Pawtucket, said she'd love to wear the red, white and blue and represent her home state at Pats' games and, hopefully, at next year's Super Bowl. `` I really wanted to be a cheerleader, and I'm not getting any younger, so I thought I'd give it a try,'' she said. Sormanti said she and her staff look for women with the right stuff to represent the team -- on the sidelines and in the community. `` Overall, we look for someone who's beautiful who has showmanship qualities,'' she said. After Saturday's audition, there were about 75 women left standing. They'll next go to the finals, which will be held April 17. The job of Patriots' cheerleader is a part-time one, and involves not only working game day to rev up the faithful at Gillette Stadium, but also appearances in the community. Which is why those who make it onto the final audition also must face a personal interview, Sormanti said. At least one local resident made the first cut. Annette Perry, 22, of Seekonk, was on the Patriots' cheerleading squad two years ago. Now she's fighting to get back on, and was overjoyed to have made it past the first round on Saturday. `` It feels great,'' she said, as she waited in line to be photographed for the judges. `` I can't wait to make it to the next round and then hopefully the finals.'' This was Perry's fifth time trying out for the squad. The reason she keeps coming back, is simple, she said. `` The Patriots' cheerleaders are huge role models, and I love to perform,'' she said. `` And there's nothing like performing in front of 64,000 Patriots' fans.'' rdrtrdrsrdrw15rsp160 JOHN WINTERS can be reached at 508-236-0434 or at jwinters(at)(at)thesunchronicle.com.