What happens when the sport you love starts to hurt you?

For many athletes, quitting isn’t just about giving up; it’s about choosing your wellbeing over the game. In this episode, Greer, a former Purdue University collegiate cheerleader, shares her raw and honest journey from excitement and confidence to frustration and tough decisions. What happens when coaching changes turn a dream team into a toxic environment? When does pushing through become too much? Greer’s story will challenge everything you think you know about quitting in sports.

In this episode, you’ll hear about:

• Growing up with anxiety and finding confidence through cheerleading
• The realities of college cheer recruiting and earning your spot
• How sudden coaching changes can shake a team to its core
• The difference between being an amazing athlete and an amazing coach
• Navigating toxic team dynamics and power struggles
• Taking a stand with Title IX and prioritizing mental health
• Why sometimes quitting is the bravest and healthiest choice

Ready to hear the full story and gain insights that every athlete and parent needs? Listen to the full episode now.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Standing at the Crossroads: To Quit or Not? Greer opens up about the difficult decision many athletes face: whether to keep going or walk away from a sport they love but that’s become challenging.

[04:15] Growing Up in Sports: Finding Confidence in Cheer. Greer shares how she balanced multiple sports growing up, ultimately finding her confidence and joy in cheerleading despite struggles with anxiety and perfectionism.

[09:30] Navigating College Cheer Recruiting. An inside look at how collegiate cheer recruiting works, including camps, tryouts, and how Purdue’s coaches saw potential in Greer even though she was still learning key skills.

[14:50] Freshman Year Highs: Support and Belonging. Greer describes the excitement of making the Purdue cheer team and feeling supported by coaches who believed in her potential.

[19:20] Freshman Year Lows: Coaching Changes and Team Turmoil. Just before tryouts, the original coaches left, and the new coaching staff struggled to lead, creating a toxic environment that fractured team dynamics.

[25:10] When Great Athletes Aren’t Great Coaches. Greer reflects on how the new coaches’ lack of experience and leadership skills negatively impacted the team culture and athlete wellbeing.

[30:45] Toxic Team Culture and Power Dynamics. Examples of how the new coaches pitted teammates against each other, dismissed academic priorities, and treated athletes disrespectfully.

[36:00] Taking a Stand: Speaking Up and Seeking Help. Greer recounts filing a Title IX complaint, seeking counseling, and advocating for herself despite the fear and uncertainty.

[41:30] Aftermath and Moving On. The problematic coaches were fired, but with ongoing instability, Greer made the difficult decision to quit cheer and focus on her mental health and academics.

[46:00] Lessons Learned: Prioritizing Wellbeing Over Sport. Greer’s final thoughts on the importance of respect, support, and knowing when walking away is the healthiest choice for an athlete’s future.

Next Steps:

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