COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — An after-school activity has the power to change a person's life. Wrestling did exactly that for one Colorado veteran who is sharing that same passion with kids today.

Wrestle Like A Girl is a non-profit organization that started in Colorado Springs and has expanded across the nation.

"I'm a two-time world bronze medalist in women's wrestling, a combat veteran in special operations, and the founder and CEO of Wrestle Like A Girl," said retired Sgt. Sally Roberts.

Roberts said she first started wrestling in middle school while living in Washington.

"My mom had been married five times, and I didn't like being at home after school. So, I would go out and shoplift and break into houses," Roberts said. "I actually got arrested so many times that I was given an ultimatum by the juvenile detention officer: I could either find an after-school activity, or I would face going to juvenile detention."

Roberts said she was cut from several sports because coaches said she did not know how to play well with others.

"When I looked at the list of offerings, I saw that wrestling was a no-cut sport. And I thought, 'That's it, as long as I go out and wrestle and I don't quit, then I won't face juvenile detention,'" Roberts said. "And that one single decision forever changed the trajectory of my life.

Without wrestling, Roberts does not know if she would have become the person she is today.

"It teaches you resiliency, bravery, courage. You're going to get knocked down countless times in wrestling, and all you have is yourself to get back up," Roberts said.

Roberts said she started Wrestle Like A Girl around five years ago.

"I wanted to name the organization 'Wrestle Like A Girl' because it was taking this derogatory term that girls felt shameful about, and we gave it power, we gave it position, we gave it authority," Robert said.

Cheyenne Dyess, 16, is one of the ambassadors of Wrestle Like A Girl. Dyess began wrestling around six years ago.

"When I was in middle school, there was no girl's program that I could enter. So, I wrestled only boys or the occasional girl that would come in," Cheyenne said.

Now, Cheyenne wrestles at Vista Ridge High School, where the boys' and girls' teams practice together.

"Being on this team is like no other. You are there for each other, just like you're there for your family," Cheyenne said.

Cheyenne was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2015 and has been cancer-free for about four years.

"Fighting cancer definitely taught me that things are temporary, and you can go through anything and fight through it," Cheyenne said. "It's really just your mindset. The pain is only temporary, and one of our practice rules is you can always do one more. So, that's really instilled just throughout wrestling, and I had that mindset throughout cancer."

Roberts said Wrestle Like A Girl bridges the gap between access and opportunity when it comes to wrestling.

This story was originally published by Colette Bordelon on Scripps station KOAA in Colorado Springs.

EVANSTON, IL — About 3.8 million concussions occur in the U.S. each year due to sports-related injuries.

Taking a hit to the noggin could knock your lights out. Experts say while helmets can protect the skull from fracturing, more protection is needed.

“There is no concussion-proof helmet. They can't prevent concussion,” said NorthShore University Medical Center neurosurgeon Dr. Julian Bailes, a former team doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers and an expert on concussions and head injuries.

“The human brain floats inside the skull,” he said. “So, when a person or a helmeted head suddenly hits another or the ground or some object, the brain can still shift.”

He says it’s that sudden jerking of the head that causes the brain to rattle around inside the skull.

“It's called brain skull decoupling. It's not one unit. It's separated and that can lead to major injury. It can lead to concussion,” said Dr. Bailes.

“I've had two in the past, and both were relatively mild. I was out for about a week from sports,” said Cooper Prawdzik, a Harvard University lacrosse player.

It’s an experience Prawdzik knows well. He played lacrosse, hockey, and football in high school, suffering two concussions along the way.

“I didn't ever have memory loss or any of that,” said Prawdzik. “It was just more of constant headaches for the next couple of days following.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 5-10% of athletes will experience a concussion in any given sports season.

For the last 12 years, Dr. Bailes has been working with a team of scientists to see if they could create internal protection for the brain.

“It's spring-loaded with a special steel spring," described Dr. Bailes.

What they came up with is a $200 band that fits around the neck called the ‘Q-Collar.’ Q30, the company that makes the band, says the device works by putting about 1.2 pounds of pressure onto the athlete’s jugular vein.

“The pressure is here so that when you place it on, it approximates near the jugular vein, which is superficial, thin-walled,” explained Dr. Bailes.

Dr. Bailes says the collar puts a kink in that hose. As drainage slows capillaries around the brain fill up with an extra tablespoon of blood, which creates a cushion for the brain like bubble wrap.

“This is enough, apparently, to just raise the amount of blood inside capacitance vessels of the brain. It makes it a tighter fit. It eliminates the ability of it to move or shift,” he said.

A study from the FDA looking at athletes found 77% of those who wore the Q-Collar during a season of play showed MRIs with no significant changes in white matter regions of the brain. Meanwhile, 73% of those who did not wear the collar exhibited significant changes in those same deep brain tissues.

Earlier this year, the FDA cleared the collar for use in athletes aged 13 and up.

“I think that even just taking the extra step and wearing that piece of equipment is very, very worth it and can help you out in the long run,” said Cooper.

It’s already being used in hockey, football and soccer. And if all continues to go well, athletes could find a Q-Collar as common as a mouth guard.

IOWA CITY, IOWA -- Caitlin Clark is a sophomore basketball player for the University of Iowa.

“I started playing basketball before I could even remember,” Clark said.

The next three years of basketball will be very different for Clark and other student-athletes. For the first time in NCAA history, college athletes across the country can now capitalize off their name, image, and likeness, or NIL, just like a professional athlete.

“Pretty much using your name to make money whether it’s commercials, advertisements, if a company wants to have them post on their social media – like an ad or something like that,” Clark said.

Knowing the change was likely to happen soon, the University of Iowa has spent the past year developing an NIL program called FLIGHT. Lyla Clerry is the associate athletics director for compliance.

“Previously they really could only use their name, image, and likeness if it was associated with their educational institution, or for a nonprofit entity," Clerry said. "So they would not be able to use their name, image, and likeness for any type of endorsement or promotion, and they could not receive compensation for such.”

If a student wasn’t compliant with those NCAA rules, it would threaten their eligibility to play. That’s no longer a concern, but now students are navigating a new realm. FLIGHT equips Iowa student-athletes with the educational training necessary to strengthen their NIL potential.

“So it could include something about branding – how do I best brand myself," Clerry said. "It can include things about finance, ya know, financial literacy – what do I need to know about being a CEO of basically my own business.”

Universities across the country are providing athletes with tools through programs like FLIGHT because they're not allowed to help them get NIL opportunities directly.

Clark says it’ll be a learning process for everybody. She still has lots of questions, but she’s thrilled about what’s ahead.

“I think commercials, I think ads on social media will definitely be two of the biggest for me,” Clark said.

When it comes to college athletes making a profit off their name – the opportunities are limitless.

University of Iowa basketball player Jordan Bohannon partnered with a fireworks store for a meet-and-greet and a chance for people to win a pair of his game-winning shoes.

University of Nebraska volleyball player Lexi Sun started her own apparel line.

Auburn University quarterback Bo Nix signed a deal with a sweet tea manufacturing company.

Right now, there’s no cap to the amount of money they can bring in.

“It can be everything from a spokesperson for a business or commercial entity, to being a social media influencer, to selling their autographs," Clerry said. "Cameo videos have become very popular – somebody pays for you to send a video message whether it’s a birthday message or congratulations message to somebody.”

Clark says she’s already been made some offers, but no contracts have been signed yet. She says she plans to be very intentional with the opportunities she chooses to pursue.

“The biggest thing for me is, I didn’t want to say ‘yes’ to everybody because that’s not really who I am and what I want to represent," Clark said.

"I want to make sure I’m aligning with the right people and doing my research. It’s almost like a business now and that’s kind of how you think and so that’s kind of the approach I’ve taken to it.”

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Olympic and Paralympic athletes across the globe faced massive disappointment in 2020, when the pandemic postponed the Tokyo games. And while it may have stalled the dreams of many, it didn’t make them fade away.

“I won silver in London. I won Gold in Mexico City and Berlin, Germany,” said Lawrence Sapp.

Sapp is a world champion swimmer. Like most world class athletes, he's been honing his craft nearly his whole life.

“I’ve been started swimming since I was four, competing since I was 11 and 12,” he said.

But unlike most athletes, he hasn’t had a traditional path.

“My coach, to learn how to swim, like a doggy paddle,” said Sapp.

When Sapp was two years old, he was diagnosed with a developmental delay. That was later determined to be autism.

Now, he’s finishing his freshman year at the University of Cincinnati, but in all likelihood, his workload will get a lot heavier this summer. It’s almost a certainty he’s headed to Tokyo for the Paralympic games.

“It was coronavirus, got hit. We all had to go home, keep it safe to stay healthy. It’s really disappointing they moved the 2020 to 2021 for this year,” said Sapp.

But now Sapp is back in the pool, working hard as he aims to bring home gold in Tokyo.

“He always shows up ready to work hard and get better,” said one of his student coaches, Sheridan Ave.

His hard work shows. It’s something his university is proud of, proud to support him in and out of the pool.

“He’s an outstanding student. He’s a great addition to the university and has a passion and gift for swimming,” said Jan Goings, who runs the Transition and Access Program (TAP).

“We are a four-year college program for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Goings.

Sapp is one of about 40 students enrolled in TAP.

He hopes to make his classmates proud when he competes in Tokyo.

“Just swim really hard, good break outs, and good starts,” said Sapp.

Goings has worked in this field for a long time.

“It has changed dramatically. The fact that universities have opened themselves to say, 'we’re here to educate all students.' So, all does mean all,” said Goings.

Institutions like the University of Cincinnati and competitions like the Paralympic games are making sure that all have a chance to show their best.

Sapp plans to show his.

“Just got to get on, be ready to race in a different country. I’ll be ready bring it on for Tokyo,” he said.