By EMILY CLARK/Contributor
College athletes often are celebrated for their strength, discipline and drive. But behind the game-day smiles, many quietly battle pressures that can break even the toughest competitors.
The hidden struggles of burnout, injury and transferring reveal just how deeply sports can impact mental health.
For junior business law major Brooke Mullins, a soccer player, unexpected injuries changed everything.
“One day you’re a starter,” Mullins said, “and the next you’re stuck in rehab, wondering if you’ll ever get back.”
BURNOUT
Burnout happens when the mental and physical demands of sports become overwhelming, leading to exhaustion, detachment and a loss of motivation.
Freshman business major Caden Naizer, a soccer player, describes burnout as feeling like “running on empty every day.”
“I love soccer,” Naizer said. “But by the end of the season, it felt like a job and definitely takes a toll on your mental health especially with no support.”
For many athletes, burnout creeps in slowly. It’s fueled by high expectations from coaches, parents and themselves. What once brought joy turns into a heavy burden that is hard to carry.
“No one tells you it’s okay to rest,” Naizer added. “If you’re not doing enough, you feel like you’re falling behind.”
INJURY
When athletes are injured, they don’t just lose physical ability—they lose a key part of their identity.
Suffering an injury led to an emotional downward spiral for Mullins.
“I felt like I was never going to come back and be as good as I was before the injury,” she said. “This puts me in a depressive state since I’m not able to play the sport that brings me happiness.”
Without strong mental health support, injured athletes struggle silently, which increases their recovery time.
Mullins finished her last year strong and continues to focus on healing — not just her body, but her mind.
“I force myself to have a more positive outlook like I’m determined to come back stronger and better than I was before,” Mullins said.
SEARCHING FOR A FRESH START
Transferring to a new school offers hope for student athletes but can bring emotional challenges. Transferring disrupts support systems, forces students to adapt to new coaching styles and can leave them feeling lost.
Junior information technology major Katelyn Walercyzk—another soccer player—transferred to UT Tyler after struggling with burnout and team issues at her previous university.
“For me transferring fixed a lot,” Walercyzk said. “But it’s still hard. You feel like you’re starting over.”
She said she came from a place of “so much confusion and uselessness to a place that opened me with open arms.”
Walerczyk is optimistic. She’s found a better balance at UT Tyler, with coaches who emphasize wellness and mental health along with athletic performance.
“Here, they care about you as a person, not just an athlete, and to say my mental health has made a complete 180-degree turn is an understatement,” she said.
To support athletes facing these challenges, UT Tyler offers services through the Student Counseling Center and athletic staff.
Coaches encourage students to prioritize mental health early — not just after a breakdown. Athletes lean on one another. Peer support networks, student organizations and open conversations about mental health are growing.
At UT Tyler, athletes are learning that true strength isn’t just playing through pain or pressure. It’s recognizing when to rest, when to ask for help and when to prioritize self.
