Leaving sports: the next step

By Amber Stentzel

Quitting something you once loved can be very difficult and overwhelming, but it also gives you new opportunities to discover yourself. At Owasso, students Wretha McDaniel and Chloe Matheny have had unique journeys after quitting sports. In this new chapter of their lives, they’ve had to figure out who they are, prioritizing self-discovery and health.

Photo of Wretha McDaniel taken by Lilly Drucker.

Wretha McDaniel, a former cross-country runner, was in class when something she did every day—sitting in her chair—was suddenly painful. At that moment, she experienced a burning pain in her knee; this pain ended up leading her to need surgery. The doctors found out she had a knee defect, where the cartilage had not properly fused to her femur, causing it to detach as she sat down.

Following her surgery, McDaniel made a healthy recovery and began running again. However, as time went on, she eventually developed shin splints and decided to take a temporary break from running. This much-needed break helped her realize that cross country brought her more stress than happiness. McDaniel decided to make this temporary break permanent; she felt she needed to start a new chapter, though she wished to hold onto the memories cross-country gave her. 

“I had based my worth on being a cross-country runner,” McDaniel explained. “I decided I needed to figure out how I was going to define myself now.” 

A part of her was gone. She felt that leaving was the right thing to do, though she struggled to figure out what was next. Now that she is no longer a part of the cross-country team, McDaniel had many questions about herself and her relationship with running.

“On my first run after leaving, I was just smiling the whole time. I felt content. I am a runner for myself and not for anyone else.” 

McDaniel realized she did love running, but she wanted to prioritize doing it for herself. With more free time, she has become more aware of the things she truly enjoys and has put more effort into those things. While McDaniel is still figuring out who she is, she has learned to put her health and happiness first. 

Chloe Matheny faced similar challenges with soccer. 

After playing soccer for five years, Matheny felt she needed to quit. She reflected on her experiences and acknowledged that soccer was a good chapter in her life, but she had changed as a person and didn’t fit in that space anymore. After quitting soccer and being away from it, Matheny realized just how unhappy the sport had made her. 

Matheny expressed, “Doing something for so long, after it's gone, it’s kind of weird, but I definitely think it’s for the better.”

Matheny shared that leaving was the best thing for her but that she didn’t know what to do in her free time. As a response, she evaluated what she had missed and put more effort into pursuing her passions.

“I’ve had a lot more time to think, and I’m not as exhausted; it’s a massive stress reliever.”

Matheny explained how while playing soccer and other school activities, she felt like she had less time for other things she appreciated. With this new freedom, she read and focused more on running; she put more effort into things that would benefit her in the future. She also became more aware of the things she was neglecting. Matheny explained how she appreciated being able to get a decent amount of sleep each night. 

Sometimes, staying in a place that causes mental turmoil can be more difficult than having to make the uncomfortable decision to leave. While quitting sports isn’t for everyone, it’s important to recognize how it can benefit some students. They can feel a weight has been lifted off of them, and they can focus more on their mental health. They can have a better understanding of who they are and what they enjoy. A time may come when, as students, we must prioritize mental health and self-awareness, even at the cost of school activities.