A wave of shock tumbled through the Piedmont University competitive cheerleading team when they noticed teammate Aleigha Carter collapse onto the mat, clutching her knee in agony. As she is notable for her toughness and grit, everyone in the gym knew Carter was seriously injured.
A cheerleader for as long as she could remember, junior Aleigha Carter had goals to compete at the highest level. But in that moment, she realized that everything she had worked for could be ripped away in an instant. While performing a skillful stunt sequence, she was preparing to catch her falling flyer from hitting the ground; then things took a dramatic turn.
“When I went to catch her, I was moving in one direction, and then I was suddenly pulled in the opposite direction. Only the top half of my body moved, leaving my feet behind,” says Carter when recalling the incident from October 2023. “The next thing I knew, I heard a loud pop, and I was sitting on the ground.”
Not only did the sharp pain in her knee crush her spirit, but the heartbreaking realization that her entire, and possibly her entire cheerleading career, could be over before it truly began. “When it happened, I obviously tried to stay positive and optimistic,” says Carter. “But once they ran all the tests and gave me my results, I began to question if I would be able to cheer again. I was just mad at that thought.”
The doctor confirmed a torn ACL, MCL, LCL, and meniscus, with a long road to recovery ahead of her. As if the physical pain wasn’t taking enough of a toll, the mental struggle was also difficult. Carter found it most soothing to remain calm and collected during this recovery process, ensuring a positive outlook on such a negative situation.
“I always like to remember that God has a bigger plan for me,” says Carter. “I tend to focus more on getting myself better rather than beating myself up, so that when I come back, I don’t have another injury like this.”
Throughout the recovery process, Carter said her support system stood strong where she couldn’t. Each time she was feeling down, her friends, teammates and loved ones brought light to her darkness.
“They have really just cheered me on, encouraged me, and pushed me to remember to not let this slow me down or give into the pressure of it all,” says Carter. “Knowing that I had a support system really helped because I didn’t want to let them down.”
The people who have watched her recovery from the beginning have noticed Carter’s immense resilience and extreme dedication. Since her injury, Carter has brought an uplifting spirit to practice daily to cheer on her teammates.
“Aleigha has remained an amazing teammate throughout this entire journey,” says Kate Sanderlin, a sophomore teammate on the cheer team. “Even though she isn’t able to practice with us, she still shows up to every single practice and cheers us on from the bleachers. I just have so much respect for her determination and positive mindset, and I know the rest of my team feels the same.”
After 390 days, two surgeries, and dozens of rehab sessions, Aleigha Carter now faces her return to the mat in a little over a month. As the countdown has officially begun, mixed emotions swarm through her mind. Carter says feelings of nervousness, uncertainty, and anxiety are taking their course, mixed in with excitement and relief. In typical fashion, Carter is choosing to focus on the latter two emotions.
“I’m most excited to just get my life back to normal,” said Carter. “I want to share my story with my team and show them that no matter what, you can overcome anything you set your mind to.”
