By Catherine Laroche

University of Louisville senior cheerleader Demorick “Demo” Garrett is known amongst his friends and family as a man for accomplishing major goals throughout his life.

But to students, he’s known as “that male cheerleader who does the crazy flips across the court at basketball games.”

“Demo is a special person who fits into the cardinal family well,” Brandon Gwynn, former U of L cheerleader and justice administration graduate, said. “He keeps the attitude up with the team and is an extremely talented motivator by his crazy tumbling skills. Just take the games, when you see him flipping around the floor and driving the fans crazy. This makes it easier for the rest of the cheerleaders to do their jobs as well.”

Garrett’s been working hard on his tumbling since he was seven years old, when he and his cousin would spend hours in his backyard tumbling. His mom was not much of a fan.

“My mom would always say ‘If you don’t stop doing that, you’re going to break your neck,'” Garrett said. “I would just keep doing it over and over and I got better and better. So, then she said ‘Well, we need to put you in something to waste all that energy.’ So, she put me in gymnastics and I’ve been going ever since.”

Garrett became a cheerleader when he was 14 years old after impressing his high school cheerleading coach with his gymnastic skills.

When Garrett wasn’t on the sidelines cheering his high school athletic teams to victory, he could be found on a baseball diamond, playing for his high school baseball team.

“It was cool, because the baseball boys were also the cheerleading managers,” Garrett said.

Ultimately, Garrett chose cheerleading over baseball. However, he didn’t immediately choose U of L straight out of high school. He attended Kilgore College, a junior college in Texas.

While attending a summer cheerleading camp before college, U of L co-ed cheerleading coach James Speed approached Garrett and asked him to come to Louisville and cheer.

However, due to prior commitments, he turned down the offer.

Speed was determined to put Garrett in a U of L cheer uniform. When competing at nationals for Kilgore, he met up with Speed again.

This time would be different, as Garrett couldn’t turn down a second offer from Speed.

After try-outs, Garrett made the team. Since then, he has had no regrets.

“The best things about cheering for U of L is the exciting football and basketball games, all the people I get to meet, cheering in front of sold-out crowds, the great fans and traveling,” Garrett said.

“It’s just a lot of fun. Everything is great.”

His teammates are happy that Garrett didn’t turn down that second offer.

“Demo has great leadership on the team,” Mecha Sachini, senior co-ed cheerleader, said. “He is always going the extra mile. He is a respectful, talented person and would do his best to try to help make any situation better.”

Garrett has encountered much success throughout his cheerleading journey. He was on the USA Gymnastics team for four years. As a member of the team, he had the opportunity to go to the World Championship in Denmark where he competed for USA against Canada. In August of 2001, he was ranked fifth in the world at power tumbling.

“It was great,” Garrett said. “I got to compete against a bunch of different people to show that I was on one of the top teams.”

Garrett made the USA team after going to three team try-outs, where he placed third at one try-out and second in the other two try-outs.

“My biggest accomplishments have been winning nationals and being recognized,” Garrett said.

“People compliment me during and after the games. It feels great to know there are people out there who love cheerleaders.”

Garrett is currently majoring in interior design and will be transferring to a design school in Chicago to finish his degree and work at Ultimate Athletics, a well-known gym in the city.

Whatever Garrett decides to do after graduating, cheerleading will still be a part of his decision somehow.

“I just love cheerleading,” Garrett said.