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When Brooke Hill was born, both of her feet were turned inward, and by the time she was 3, her doctor suggested surgery or taking ballet classes to correct the condition.
All five basic positions of the feet in ballet require turnout, a rotation of the entire leg coming from the hip joint.
Hills mom, Lisa, a registered nurse at UMass Memorial Health in Worcester, signed her youngest daughter up for ballet and tap at McKeon Dance & Gymnastics in Hopedale.
Hill flourished almost immediately, was invited to join McKeons competitive dance team when she was five, and for the next 13 years, starred on stages in tap, her specialty, ballet, jazz, contemporary and hip hop, and won top honors.
She dedicated 20-30 hours per week to dance at McKeons during her four years at Milford High.
Thats how my dance journey started, Hill, who resides in her hometown of Milford, said, because of a medical issue I was born with.
I was a little shy at first, but as soon as I started competing, I absolutely fell in love with dance, and Ive stuck with it ever since.
At the University of Massachusetts, where Hill earned her bachelors degree in business administration and marketing from the Isenberg School of Management in 2024, she was a member of the dance team and performed at Minutemen football and basketball games.
It was a great experience for Hill, who was team captain her senior year, and it sparked the idea of someday trying out to become a New England Patriots cheerleader.
(At UMass) I was introduced to pom dancing, which is what you see on NFL sidelines, Hill said.
Being part of the game day atmosphere is so invigorating and makes you so excited about the team youre rooting for.
Last year, while in a six-month training program for her first full-time job after college, Hill realized how much she missed dancing.
I needed dance in my life, said Hill, who is a health care account executive at Medasource in Boston.
Ive had that outlet since I was 3.
In January, Hill began the arduous process of Patriots cheerleaders auditions with weekend workshops, advanced through the first and second rounds to the semis, and, after the grueling two-week bootcamp, to the final, which was April 18 at Foxwoods Resort & Casino and open to the public.
It was nerve-wracking as a rookie candidate, Hill said, but you want to show up and be the best version of yourself and with the veterans there, having so much talent around you is so inspiring.
Judges deliberated for 90 minutes, Hill said, and then she found out she would be one of eight rookies on the 2026 Patriots cheerleader roster.
Hills mom was in the audience.
It was very intense, Hill said, but it was a big sigh of relief and so many emotions when my name and number were called.
Its something I will never forget.
Growing up just 25 minutes from Gillette Stadium and during the Tom Brady era, Hill was naturally a Patriots fan.
How could you not be when there was a parade every other year, she said with a laugh.
Hill was also a fan of the Patriots cheerleaders.
Kayla Brunson of Hopedale, who also danced at McKeon Dance & Gymnastics, made the Patriots cheerleaders squad in 2016.
Having her as that Patriots cheerleader icon when I was younger was just so inspiring, Hill said.
On the first day of practice when we got all of our uniforms, the uniforms I had seen her wear, it was surreal.
Hill and her teammates recently returned from Cancun, Mexico, where they did their annual calendar shoot, and she performed at the Scotland-Haiti World Cup game at Gillette Stadium in June.
That was amazing, Hill said.
Being in the stadium, that was one of my I-made-it moments.
Youre in your signature uniform, in your boots, with your poms, and everyone is cheering you on, even if theyre not Patriots fans, theyre Scotland or Haiti fans, but it shows the impact we make on the community and how people do appreciate us, so that was really, really fulfilling.
Patriots cheerleaders will be greeting fans when training camp opens later this month, and they take part in numerous community events throughout the year.
Practice is well underway, and Hill is learning about 50 fillers, the routines the cheerleaders do on the sidelines throughout the games, as well as seven one-minute on-field routines and pre-game performances.
There is a lot of material, Hill said, but practice is amazing.
As much as we are cheerleaders for the New England Patriots, we are cheerleaders for each other and that has made the experience great so far.
During the season, the cheerleaders practice twice a week from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
or later and arrive before the tailgating lots open on game days.
Its extensive, Hill said, but you are representing something so much bigger than yourself.
Its a gift and a privilege.
Hill is looking forward to the Patriots home opener Sept.
20.
Im really excited to feel the atmosphere of Gillette Stadium, she said, to be on the field and have that front-row experience and have an impact on the community.
One of the most important parts of being a Patriots cheerleader is leading by example and making everyone feel so seen and so welcome because we are that direct contact to the Patriots organization.
Hills sister, Brittany, danced for a year before playing volleyball, softball and basketball.
Their brother, Blake, played football at Yale, and basketball and baseball as a youngster.
This week, Hill received two complimentary tickets and post-game on-field access wristbands for the Patriots preseason opener Aug.
13.
She gave them to her parents, Lisa and Paul.
Their eyes lit up and my dad almost started crying, Hill said.
Theyve been the most supportive people.
With so many sports going on in our house, they also took on the role of Dance Mom and Dance Dad full throttle.
I would not have been able to get to this point without them.
Contact Jennifer Toland at [email protected].
Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @JenTolandTG.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'Its a gift and a privilege': Milford's Hill now a Patriots cheerleader.