Catching You: A Dad and Daughter's Dive into Softball

88 | I Found Her On Instagram and She Shared a Wild Story!

• Rusty & Lacie Ham

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What happens when your biggest passion nearly takes your life?

In this episode of Catching You, host Lacie Ham sits down with McKenna Braegelmann, a former NCAA softball pitcher and nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year, to share her powerful story of resilience after a life-changing head injury.

McKenna opens up about her accident during a softball tournament, the immediate and long-term challenges of recovery, and the emotional toll of returning to the circle while battling PTSD and anxiety. Together, Lacie and McKenna reflect on their eerily similar injuries, the pressures of college athletics, and the hidden battles athletes face beyond the field.

🎙️ Topics covered in this episode:

McKenna’s softball journey from travel ball to NCAA Division I.

The terrifying moment that changed everything.

Coping with injury-related PTSD and panic attacks.

The importance of sports psychology and finding the right support.

Advocating for mental health in athletics and McKenna’s future goals.

This conversation is raw, inspiring, and deeply relatable for athletes, parents, and anyone navigating adversity.

👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories that highlight the athlete journey—both on and off the field.

#Softball #AthleteMentalHealth #NCAA #Podcast #SportsPsychology

A couple of years ago, as a family, we created family core values.  One of them is, "We face challenges with optimism while displaying a growth mindset."  We wanted to tell our story so others, who relate, can navigate through these challenges better.  Contributing to our Podcast will show we're on the right track and we're making a difference to those who have similar stories.  Buy Us A Coffee  

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