A 10-time national champion and former Louisville Cardinals cheerleader was found dead over the weekend at just 30-years-old.
Eric Ortiz died unexpectedly from unknown causes over the weekend, according to family members and former teammates.
GymTime All Stars shared the news of his death with their thousands of followers Monday in a tribute to the 'captivating' and 'genuine' athlete and friend.
The Louisville Cardinals were slated to welcome back alumni to the school for homecoming weekend in which former cheerleaders would take the field to cheer alongside current team members.
Eric Ortiz, a former Louisville Cardinals cheerleader, died over the weekend unexpectedly
Ortiz, just 30, was known as a dedicated athlete and leader in the world of cheerleading, according to fellow teammates and friends
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Share'This weekend was supposed to be like any other Homecoming weekend here in Louisville,' officials wrote. 'This Homecoming weekend turned out to be one none of us expected.'
The group said that Eric was 'called home' in the post that applauded the massive talent he brought to the team.
'Eric Ortiz was a force when he joined our program. He could stunt, tumble, jump, dance, and perform with some of the greatest athletes that have ever stepped a shoe onto a cheer floor. He was captivating as an athlete. He could do it all and that he did. He was a leader at practice and on the competition floor.'
Shortly after the news of his death broke, tributes began pouring in from friends, loved ones, former teammates, and even those who he did not know but felt moved by his impact on the cheerleading community.
One of the most heartbreaking messages came from start of Netflix's 'CHEER,' Gabi Butler, who shared several photos with Eric on Instagram Monday.
'My heart is completely torn into a million pieces,' Butler wrote. 'The thought of not being able to hear your laugh or see that beautiful smile shatters me.'
'I wish I could have given you more, because you gave so many people so much of yourself. You walked into a room and it lit up with this bright light. You were full of joy, laughter, happiness, light and love.
Gabi Butler, star of Netflix's 'CHEER,' shared a tribute to Eric on Instagram Monday
Butler and Eric appeared to have been friends for years, according to photos he posted to his own Instagram page in 2016
'From the very moment I saw you, I knew you were special. You walked over to me with the biggest smile on your face and said "Hi I'm Eric, I'm your new base… can I throw you?” and I knew from that point on that we were going to click and be best friends.
'The memories that we have shared are ones that a lot of people don’t get to share because they were so special. You were such a unique/ old soul and all I can say now is I will always and forever love you with every part of me. You were too good of a person and now you were called to go home
'Your memory will live with me forever and I want to thank you for making me feel like I was invincible because you always made me feel like I was on top of the world. I love you with all my heart and soul Eric… rest easy my angel, you will always be missed and in my heart.'
Ortiz was recognized widely within the cheer community as one of the best in the business, racking up two world championship titles in addition to the ten national wins he and his team claimed.
In his many years of cheerleading, Ortiz won 10 national championships and two world championships with his team
The cheerleader has already been eulogized by hundreds of friends and family members across various social media platforms, as well as his obituary website
'Eric was a sweet, amazing, and genuine person. There were always plenty of smiles, hugs, and reasons to laugh when he was near. His positivity was infectious with his teammates, program, and friends. He was a light that pushed whatever darkness and worry present- away,' GymTime All Stars continued in their tribute.
An obituary posted for Eric says that the cheerleader died on October 22 and that his memorial and funeral services will be held in The Bronx, his hometown, Thursday and Friday.
'As we all face this moment of darkness together, we will remember that we are not alone. We still have each other and our memories of you. We will miss you terribly but know you would want us to live our best life.
'Thank you for letting us be a part of your magnificent time here.'
Eric's brother, Richie, was one of the first to share the news of the cheerleader's death.
Eric's brother, Richie, shared this photo of the them together in his Instagram post announcing his brother's death
On Saturday, he posted to Instagram a series of photos dating back years to when the two were toddlers.
'My heart is truly broken. How can such an amazing person be taken away from us?! Why?! Eric, I love you and I miss you so much. I can’t even believe I’m writing this. This one hurts,' Richie wrote.
On Sunday, he followed his Instagram post up with a message on Twitter, saying: 'I just want my brother back.'
Cheer Updates, a news site devoted to cheerleading news, also posted about Eric's death, remembering him for an 'iconic' moment from a 2015 championship.
Keeping all of the University of Louisville cheer program, GymTyme, friends and family of cheerleading legend Eric Ortiz in our thoughts today ❤️
The year was 2015 in an iconic Day 2 correction and illustration of maintaining pyramid grips to avoid legality.
He will be missed. pic.twitter.com/KLx0QVZB0B
— cheerUPDATES (@cheerUPDATES) October 22, 2022'Keeping all of the University of Louisville cheer program, GymTyme, friends and family of cheerleading legend Eric Ortiz in our thoughts today.
'The year was 2015 in an iconic Day 2 correction and illustration of maintaining pyramid grips to avoid legality. He will be missed,' Cheer Updates wrote on their Twitter.
The replies to their post were then flooded with followers who expressed shock, confusion, and sadness over the cheerleader's death.
'EXCUSE ME……..????? please tell me this is a lie,' said one person in a reply.
'My heart is breaking for his family. What happened?' asked another commenter.
The details surrounding Eric's death remain under wraps at this time.
'An absolute icon. That correction was epic. It was a pleasure to watch him perform. Life is so darn fragile. RIP ERIC,' one person said.
Eric also danced with the Louisville LadyBirds during his time at the Kentucky school
The Louisville LadyBirds, the dance team for the University of Louisville, shared a post in remembrance of their former teammate, as well, calling Eric a 'perfect teammate.'
'Our hearts are heavy this weekend with the news of one of our former teammate’s passing. To know him was to love him, and to dance with him was nothing short of incredible. Eric was the true example of a perfect teammate,' the post read.
That Instagram post was also flooded with comments from those who loved him, calling Eric 'the biggest hype man' and 'an amazing human.'
According to Eric's Instagram, he graduated in 2017 from the school with his degree in nursing.
Eric was a registered nurse who graduated from the University of Louisville with his bachelors of science in nursing in 2017
In one photo, he shared a headshot taken just before graduation, writing: 'Eric Ortiz, RN, BSN. It's official.'
'Many trial and tribulations along the way that have made me such a stronger individual ready to take on the world. Love you and appreciate you all,' he captioned another picture.
It's unclear if Eric was working as a nurse or in a hospital at the time of his death.
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