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May 5, 2025 29 mins

What happens when a dream collides with a diagnosis?

In this unforgettable episode of Challenger Deep: Athletes Rising Above Adversity, D1 volleyball player Madeline “Mad” Wilson shares how she beat stage 4 cancer—twice—and still fought her way back to the court, helping her underdog team win back-to-back conference championships at Wofford College.

Mad gets raw about mental health, toxic positivity, being underestimated, and how a relentless “why” helped her rise from hospital rooms to high-stakes NCAA matches. She also opens up about the profound connection with her coach after her coach’s son was diagnosed with cancer, revealing how life’s darkest moments can lead to purpose and impact far beyond the game.

🎯 If you’ve ever felt like the odds were stacked against you, this is the episode you need.

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#ChallengerDeep #MadWilson #CancerSurvivor #Volleyball #MentalToughness #UnderdogMindset #JeffHeggie #AthleteStories #Resilience #CollegeVolleyball #SportsPsychology #ConfidentAthlete

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Jeff Heggie

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