From Tarleton to Coastal: Four Chants Follow Cuadrado
9/11/2026 1:04:00 PM | Women's Soccer
CONWAY, S.C. – When Pete Cuadrado left Tarleton State to become the head coach of Coastal Carolina women's soccer, four of his former players decided they weren't ready to leave him behind.
Kyra Kotsopoulos, Reegan Wagg, Sammy Schulze and Chloe Smith were all members of Cuadrado's Tarleton State program, and the initial news of Cuadrado's departure came with a whirlwind of emotions.
Sammy was conflicted. "I honestly had mixed emotions. I was really sad, but also really happy for them at the same time." Kyra found it overwhelming. "I burst out into tears because I had just transferred there. So I was like, why is this happening to me?"
Chloe was scared, having only been at Tarleton for one semester after graduating high school early, and for Reegan, the thought of transferring again was something she never expected.
But somewhere in the initial shock, each player began thinking about the same question: What if they followed Cuadrado to Coastal?
"I think I immediately knew I wanted to go with him," Kyra said. "When he brought me into his office and we had a talk about me coming, I just knew immediately I wanted to go."
Chloe began considering the possibility that same day. "He told us in the practice and later that morning, I asked him if I could have a meeting in his office and I sat down, had a conversation with him. It wasn't decided then, but it was definitely a conversation and it led me to where I am today."
For Sammy, the decision came down to a coach that had her back. "I wanted to follow Coach Pete because he rewards hard work and he's always believed in me from the very beginning."
That belief was a common theme among all four players.
After spending time in Cuadrado's program at Tarleton State, they not only knew what to expect from him as a coach but also how he was as a person.
"He's very caring, and you can tell he actually cares about me as a person and a soccer player," Kyra said. "It's nice to have a coach that sees that other side and sees the potential in me."
Chloe experienced that personal side of Cuadrado during one of the most difficult moments of her transfer process after she tore her ACL. "I had to call Coach Pete and explain the situation to him. I was super scared at first and I had honestly delayed calling him and telling him, but when I did, he was so understanding and he honestly just made me feel more than just a soccer player. Like I was more than just my abilities on the field."
That response reinforced why she wanted to continue playing for him. "He really wants each of us to grow as young women and as young soccer players," she said. "He is very straightforward and honest, which I also really respect."
For Reegan, who had spent two years with Cuadrado and the coaching staff, the decision was built on her existing relationship with them.
"I've been with them for two years and built up a lot of trust," Reegan said. "Being an international athlete can be difficult at times, but the coaches give me a sense of comfort, and they also push me to be my best every day. Not only on the field, but off the field too."
That trust gave the four players confidence in following Cuadrado into a new chapter.
Still, transferring is never an easy decision, particularly when it means leaving behind a familiar place and starting over somewhere new.
The difference this time was that they weren't starting over alone.
"The transfer process felt less scary because I knew how Pete ran a program from Tarleton, and I'm also coming here with three other teammates," Sammy said.
For Kyra, who had already experienced the transfer process, she had a much easier transition to Coastal.
"I think it helped a lot," she said. "The first time I transferred, I knew nobody going, but coming here with all my best friends, it really helped me move."
Reegan agreed, admitting that the transfer process itself was intimidating.
"The transfer process definitely scared me," she said. "It was something I didn't really expect that I would do, but knowing that I have three of my best friends with me makes it really comforting."
Together, the four players took a difficult and unexpected situation and turned it into an opportunity.
They knew the coach.
They trusted the coach.
And they had each other.
Now, they get to build the next chapter of their careers together at Coastal Carolina.
For complete coverage of CCU women's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWSoccer (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUsports.com.
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Kyra Kotsopoulos, Reegan Wagg, Sammy Schulze and Chloe Smith were all members of Cuadrado's Tarleton State program, and the initial news of Cuadrado's departure came with a whirlwind of emotions.
Sammy was conflicted. "I honestly had mixed emotions. I was really sad, but also really happy for them at the same time." Kyra found it overwhelming. "I burst out into tears because I had just transferred there. So I was like, why is this happening to me?"
Chloe was scared, having only been at Tarleton for one semester after graduating high school early, and for Reegan, the thought of transferring again was something she never expected.
But somewhere in the initial shock, each player began thinking about the same question: What if they followed Cuadrado to Coastal?
"I think I immediately knew I wanted to go with him," Kyra said. "When he brought me into his office and we had a talk about me coming, I just knew immediately I wanted to go."
Chloe began considering the possibility that same day. "He told us in the practice and later that morning, I asked him if I could have a meeting in his office and I sat down, had a conversation with him. It wasn't decided then, but it was definitely a conversation and it led me to where I am today."
For Sammy, the decision came down to a coach that had her back. "I wanted to follow Coach Pete because he rewards hard work and he's always believed in me from the very beginning."
That belief was a common theme among all four players.
After spending time in Cuadrado's program at Tarleton State, they not only knew what to expect from him as a coach but also how he was as a person.
"He's very caring, and you can tell he actually cares about me as a person and a soccer player," Kyra said. "It's nice to have a coach that sees that other side and sees the potential in me."
Chloe experienced that personal side of Cuadrado during one of the most difficult moments of her transfer process after she tore her ACL. "I had to call Coach Pete and explain the situation to him. I was super scared at first and I had honestly delayed calling him and telling him, but when I did, he was so understanding and he honestly just made me feel more than just a soccer player. Like I was more than just my abilities on the field."
That response reinforced why she wanted to continue playing for him. "He really wants each of us to grow as young women and as young soccer players," she said. "He is very straightforward and honest, which I also really respect."
For Reegan, who had spent two years with Cuadrado and the coaching staff, the decision was built on her existing relationship with them.
"I've been with them for two years and built up a lot of trust," Reegan said. "Being an international athlete can be difficult at times, but the coaches give me a sense of comfort, and they also push me to be my best every day. Not only on the field, but off the field too."
That trust gave the four players confidence in following Cuadrado into a new chapter.
Still, transferring is never an easy decision, particularly when it means leaving behind a familiar place and starting over somewhere new.
The difference this time was that they weren't starting over alone.
"The transfer process felt less scary because I knew how Pete ran a program from Tarleton, and I'm also coming here with three other teammates," Sammy said.
For Kyra, who had already experienced the transfer process, she had a much easier transition to Coastal.
"I think it helped a lot," she said. "The first time I transferred, I knew nobody going, but coming here with all my best friends, it really helped me move."
Reegan agreed, admitting that the transfer process itself was intimidating.
"The transfer process definitely scared me," she said. "It was something I didn't really expect that I would do, but knowing that I have three of my best friends with me makes it really comforting."
Together, the four players took a difficult and unexpected situation and turned it into an opportunity.
They knew the coach.
They trusted the coach.
And they had each other.
Now, they get to build the next chapter of their careers together at Coastal Carolina.
For complete coverage of CCU women's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalWSoccer (X), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (Facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram), or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at GoCCUsports.com.
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Players Mentioned
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