Growing up, Gretchen played competitive soccer with the dream of following in her father’s footsteps and playing soccer for Ohio State. In high school, she thought that losing a little weight would make her more competitive, faster, and stronger. Gretchen says that’s when she started down the road of an eating disorder. In her freshman year at college, she was sidelined due to frequent injuries. Looking back, Gretchen says she wasn’t healthy enough to play.