😢 Addi Smith is gone at just 11 years old in the most tragic and unfathomable way… but the stories pouring in from her school teachers, best friends, cheer teammates, and coaches are lighting up the darkness with pure love.

They say she had the smile that started before the music even played — the kind that lifted the whole team when things got tough. She was the ultimate hype girl, always pumping everyone up, kind to every single person, hardworking, and proud of every flip and routine. “She lit up the room,” one coach shared. “A friend to everyone, always smiling, striving for what she wanted.”

In the wake of unimaginable heartbreak, these heartfelt tributes from the people who knew her best reveal a bright, loving spirit who left an unbreakable mark on her gym, her school, and her friends. The cheer community is pausing practices, hanging blue and pink memorials, and sharing memories that show just how deeply she was adored.

This is the side of Addi the world needs to see — the joy she brought, the light she was. Heart-shattering yet beautiful… you have to read what her teachers, besties, teammates, and coaches are saying about the girl they’ll never forget.

Click the link NOW to feel the love through their words — share to keep her memory shining. 💙💗🙏

As the Utah cheerleading community and beyond continue to grieve the sudden loss of 11-year-old Addi Smith, heartfelt tributes from those who knew her best are painting a vivid picture of a bright, kind-hearted girl whose presence brought joy to gyms, classrooms and friendships alike.

Addi, a competitive cheerleader from West Jordan, Utah, was found dead alongside her mother, Tawnia McGeehan, 38, in their room at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on Sunday, February 16. Authorities have classified the incident as a murder-suicide, with McGeehan believed to have shot her daughter before taking her own life. The pair had traveled to the city for a cheer competition with Utah Xtreme Cheer, but when Addi failed to appear for team activities, concerns led to a welfare check that ended in tragedy.

In the days since, teachers, school friends, best friends, cheer teammates and coaches have shared memories that highlight Addi’s infectious positivity, hard work and unwavering kindness. These accounts, gathered from social media posts, interviews with local outlets and community memorials, offer a glimpse into the young athlete’s impact far beyond the tragedy.

At Utah Xtreme Cheer, where Addi was a current team member, gym owner Kory Uyetake described her as the ultimate “hype man” on the squad. “She was always the person to get up there and get the kids pumped up when things weren’t really going their way,” Uyetake told ABC4. The gym’s official statement on Facebook captured the depth of the loss: “With the heaviest hearts, we share the devastating news that our sweet athlete Addi has passed away. We are completely heartbroken. No words do the situation justice. She was so beyond loved, and she will always be a part of the UXC family.”

Former coaches echoed similar sentiments. Emily Morgan, owner of Utah Fusion All-Stars and Addi’s coach for two years, emphasized her kindness and dedication. “Addi was a very kind and loving kid,” Morgan said in interviews with KUTV and ABC4. “She was the kind of kid that everybody loved.” Morgan noted that Addi took great pride in learning her routines and always strived to improve. “She would learn her part, and she took a lot of pride in what she was doing. As a coach, that’s the dream,” she added. “She was kind, hardworking, a friend to everyone, always smiling. She would light up the room and always went after what she wanted and strived for. She was so proud of herself, accomplished anything, and was a great kid.”

Teammates and former teammates have been especially vocal. At memorials held at both Utah Xtreme Cheer and Utah Fusion All-Stars, former teammates brought handmade signs, drawings, posters and paper hearts to express their love. One event coordinator described how the community gathered to share memories in a safe space. “She was kind, hard working, and a friend to everyone,” a participant named Gales shared during a gathering reported by ABC4.

The Utah Cinderella Pageant, where Addi had also participated, remembered her “bright smile and kindness.” Social media posts from friends highlighted her as someone who stood for her team, not just in formation but in spirit. “She didn’t just stand in formation. She stood for her team,” one tribute noted.

School friends and best friends have contributed to the outpouring, though specific school details remain private amid the family’s grief. Broader community responses, including from neighbors tying blue ribbons (one of Addi’s favorite colors) around street lights, reflect the widespread affection. The Salem Police Department, where Addi’s uncle serves as Sgt. Smith, issued a statement of support: “We are coming together as a department to support Sergeant Smith and his family during this unimaginable time.”

At a memorial event hosted by Jeff Krapf, an event organizer in the cheer community, speakers reminded attendees to “think of her smile, the kind that showed up before the music even started. The kind that made practices lighter, competitions like this brighter. The kind that reminded all of us why we fell in love with the sport in the first place.”

Practices have been paused at multiple gyms to allow time for mourning, with grief counselors available. Former teammates created tributes and delivered them to Addi’s current gym as a show of solidarity. Morgan expressed hope that Addi’s example would inspire others: “I know that the kids in the gym are going to continue on for Addi. And I know that her example and her light are going to be a presence in our gym for sure, but probably in the cheer community for a long time.”

The tributes contrast sharply with the circumstances of Addi’s death, which followed a years-long custody dispute between McGeehan and Addi’s father, Brad Smith, documented in Utah County court records. Allegations of domestic violence and ongoing conflicts dated back nearly a decade, though a settlement was reached in 2024. No direct link between the custody issues and the incident has been confirmed by authorities.

The cheer community has rallied around Addi’s memory, emphasizing her positive qualities amid the sorrow. Utah Fusion All-Stars described her as “absolutely loved in our gym,” while others noted how she brought a “light” that brightened everyone around her.

As investigations continue and funeral arrangements are pending, these personal stories serve as a reminder of the young life lost — one filled with enthusiasm, friendship and an enduring smile that touched so many.