BARTOW, Fla. — In a room used for cheer prep and practicing difficult stunts, hugs were the move of the day.

And they were necessary.

What You Need To Know

  •  Bartow High's cheer program has won 10 state titles and six national championships

  •  Former cheerleader David "Oyo" Larracas helped them win many of those championships. He earned a full cheer scholarship to UCF

  •  Oyo passed away last month from a traumatic brain injury. He was just 25 years old

Bartow High School’s cheer room is filled with championship trophies, 10 state titles and six national championships. And right now, it’s filled with sadness.

“Anytime you can come in here, this is like a safe place,” Bartow head coach Lori Jolliff said.

And there was safety in numbers for those who gathered to remember a Bartow cheerleader who once filled this room with his bigger than life personality. David Larracas, or Oyo as his friends and family called him, loved to cheer. And he was good at it.

“When he actually performed, I was just like this is so awesome, son,” his mother Aimee Jones said.

Oyo’s family and Bartow's families shared their favorite stories. It made it feel like Oyo was still here. But sadly, he passed away last month from a traumatic brain injury. But in typical Oyo fashion, he continued to give back. His organs were donated and his selflessness was recognized with an honor walk at the hospital. He was just 25 years old.

“It’s still very fresh, but this is good,” his dad Kevin Jones said.

At Bartow, cheer became Oyo’s life. He developed into one of the top cheerleaders in the state and earned a full scholarship to UCF, where he got to continue feeding his cheer soul. It’s that cheer community that’s shown up in full force to help his family grieve.

“The outpouring of love has been incredible to both of us,” Kevin Jones said. “And in a time where we absolutely needed it.”

There are pieces of Oyo all over this room. His photos are on the walls. His name on the state championship trophies he helped the Yellow Jackets win. But mostly, it’s his spirit those that loved him most feel when they step inside the cheer room.

“I know what he experienced in this room,” Jolliff said, “and how much he loved being in this room and how much I loved having him on the team. So it was a sense of like, he’s still here with us.”