What happens when setbacks don’t slow you down — they sharpen you?
In this episode of When the Cleats Come Off, Ashley sits down with Keirstin Roose, a resilient and driven competitor whose journey through the game of softball is defined by perseverance, perspective, and purpose. From growing up obsessed with the game in northern Indiana to becoming a standout at Coastal Carolina Softball, Keirstin’s story is one of continual growth through challenge.
This conversation goes far beyond the stat line, offering an honest look at what it takes to keep showing up when the path isn’t linear — and when life throws unexpected obstacles your way.
A Journey Built on Resilience
Keirstin opens up about navigating the transfer portal and ultimately committing to Georgia Softball for her final collegiate season — a decision rooted in trust, timing, and belief in herself.
She also shares the realities of overcoming multiple knee and shoulder surgeries, the mental toll of repeated rehabs, and how she learned to stay patient and grounded through long recovery processes. Most recently, Keirstin discusses being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and how she’s approached that news with the same mindset she brings to the field: education, discipline, and perspective.
Her story is a powerful reminder that becoming your best self often means facing — not avoiding — hard things.
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What You’ll Learn in This Episode
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How obsession with the game can fuel long-term growth
Where Keirstin’s love for softball began and how it carried her through adversity. -
What the transfer portal experience is really like
The emotions, uncertainty, and clarity that come with major career decisions. -
How to navigate repeated injuries without losing confidence
Lessons learned from multiple surgeries and long rehab timelines. -
How perspective shapes resilience
Why mindset matters just as much as physical recovery. -
What it means to pursue your best self — on and off the field
Competing with intention, gratitude, and self-awareness.
About Keirstin Roose
Keirstin Roose is a collegiate softball standout whose journey through the game has been shaped as much by resilience and self-belief as by talent. A native of northern Indiana, Keirstin’s love for softball began early and quickly grew into an all-consuming passion — one rooted in competitiveness, curiosity, and a relentless desire to improve.
She made her mark at the Division I level as a standout for Coastal Carolina before navigating the transfer portal and committing to the University of Georgia for her final collegiate season.Â
Throughout her career, Keirstin has faced and overcome significant adversity, including multiple knee and shoulder surgeries that required long rehabilitation processes and mental endurance. Most recently, she has taken on the challenge of managing a Type 1 diabetes diagnosis — approaching it with the same discipline, education, and perspective that have defined her athletic journey.
Beyond the field, Keirstin is known for her leadership, honesty and willingness to share her story. She is the host of the Like a Girl podcast, where she uses her voice to encourage conversations around confidence, identity and navigating the highs and lows of competitive sports.
Connect with Keirsten:
- Instagram: @keirstin.roose
- TikTok: @keirstin.roose
- Like a Girl Podcast
- Instagram: @likeagirl_pod
