Ninth in a series
Part 8 - Lamont Frisby, Men's Track & Field Freshman
Part 7 - Kobe Terashima, Men's Basketball Freshman
Part 6 - Zharon Richmond, Men's Basketball Freshman
Part 5 - Hannah Collins, Women's Basketball Freshman
Part 4 - Izela Alvarez, Volleyball Freshman
Part 3 - Maddi Vigil, Volleyball Freshman
Part 2 - Natalie Cabiad, Women's Soccer Freshman
Part 1 - Kylee Clarke, Volleyball Freshman

BILLINGS, Mont. – "Schroefel! Hustle!"
 
Two words that fourth-grade Sarah Schroefel continually heard as she sprinted up and down the basketball court to make her dad, also her coach, proud. 'Hustle' has become a universally understood command among athletes where some take it as a personal attack and become offended, and others remain indifferent and carry on as a mediocre athlete. Then there is Sarah Schroefel who takes a word like this one for what it is: a challenge.
 
Whether it was traveling across the state for the next basketball tournament, running the final stretch in a cross-country race, or putting for birdie, Schroefel demonstrated hustle in all that she did. Schroefel, a successful multi-sport athlete and a Worland, Wyo., native, graduated high school and attended Central Wyoming College for two years where she golfed collegiately. "I chose to play golf because I felt like I had more potential in that sport. It was a hard decision between that and basketball, but I definitely made the right decision," said Schroefel.

Not too many athletes get a choice as to which sport they play at the collegiate level, but yet again, Schroefel was one of few. Plus, her high-top Nike golf shoes give her the best of both worlds.
 
Upon completion of her associate's degree at Central Wyoming College, Schroefel knew that she was not done. With two years of eligibility remaining, she began exploring her options. "I always desired to play Division 2 golf, but there was definitely a fear of not being good enough," Schroefel commented on battling doubts of her ability to compete at the next level. At the time of making her decision, Schroefel had many people surrounding her and encouraging her to continue on, one being the same coach and father yelling at her to hustle down the court.
 
Joining the Montana State University Billings women's golf squad in the fall of 2017, Schroefel is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Yellowjackets' spring season this week. With much time to reflect back on the five fall-season events she competed in, Sarah discussed her game plan for the upcoming spring season.
 
"I have learned to be confident in my swing," Schroefel said. "I really second guessed everything I did this last fall and I just need to be confident and mentally tough."
 
 
"Sarah never quits. That's just not her," commented her father Sterling Schroefel. "Even though I was tough on her as her coach, I am extremely proud of her as a dad. She never backed down and always had to work hard. She has golfed since she was little and was a natural. I'm ecstatic she is at MSUB and I enjoy watching her golf immensely."
 
Sarah never allowed the fear of not being good enough inhibit her in the past, so naturally she packed her bags and moved to Montana to become a Yellowjacket. Even though the decision had been made and the fall of 2017 was quickly approaching, there were still fears that lingered. However, she did not reveal any of these fears until after her first semester as a Yellowjacket was complete.
 
"Transferring was sort of intimidating," said Schroefel regarding her first impressions of MSUB. "Coming in as a junior, there was some pressure for me to be a leader or just an upperclassman and it was hard finding that role at first."
 
The idea of transferring is not something that every student experiences in her collegiate career. In fact, there are not too many that understand all that comes with being a transfer student-athlete. Sarah further described the feeling of entering MSUB as a transfer saying, "You are obviously not a freshman, but you don't really feel established as a part of the team yet either. It's kind of an awkward transition." Again, this was not going to stop Sarah from following her plan because playing golf was not the only reason she desired to attend MSUB.
 
"I also chose MSUB because of its healthcare administration degree," Schroefel said. Schroefel not only possesses an incredible work ethic athletically, she has 3.5 GPA and takes her efforts in the classroom seriously. She has already begun thinking about her life after college, and her plans for the future are rapidly taking shape as her passions are being revealed to her. With this being said, Schroefel's picture for her life isn't wrapped up in anything of the ordinary.

Her grandfather was in an assisted living facility because he had Alzheimer's. He passed away last year but during his time in the facility, Schroefel developed a love for the elderly. The time Schroefel spent assisting with various activities at the assisted living facility inspired a passion that she plans to turn into a career. "I want to be an administrator at an assisted living facility because I love working with the elderly and feel as if it will be a great job," Schroefel commented on her eye-opening experience. "There is a lot of room for improvement in assisted living facilities and I want to be a part of that change."
Sarah has continually demonstrated the pattern of facing a challenge, overcoming it, and becoming successful even when faced with unimaginable circumstances.
 
"My mom died of cancer my freshman year of high school and this changed my entire life," said Schroefel. "It is still such a challenge for me. People innocently say things like, 'I need to go call my mom'. They don't mean harm by it, but here I am left with the realization that this is no longer a reality for me."
 
From her father's perspective, Schroefel was thrust suddenly into becoming independent and strong. "When her mom passed, Sarah was forced to grow up sooner than she would have planned," said Sterling. "She had to take on more chores, work harder, and become the best that she could possibly be."
 
Schroefel and her dad have developed an even more unique relationship than just coach and coach's daughter. Both Schroefel and her dad express incredible love for the other as they have been forced to become closer over the last couple of years. With the support and love from her dad, Schroefel was able to continue to strive for excellence in all aspects of her life. Even though this is absolutely true of her, describing what Schroefel endured in this time in her life is not something that can be tied into a nice, neat bow. She continued to face challenges shortly after this life-altering event.
 
"Her senior year of high school was a struggle," Sterling recalled. "She was in a tough situation in basketball that really challenged her. I was no longer her coach so she had to learn how to be under a new coach. Sarah was also dealing with the loss of her mom at the same time, but she persevered through it all."
 
In her first fall season with the 'Jackets, Schroefel competed in all eight rounds through four tournaments.
Though she did admit that she felt that there was room for improvement from her fall season, Schroefel was extremely successful in the Western New Mexico Invitational Tournament. Recording two solid 18-hole round scores of 77 and 79, she expressed the importance of returning back to the mindset she had during this tournament and executing that same mindset for her spring season tournaments.
 
"Sarah is an absolute delight to coach," commented Yellowjacket head coach Kevin Woodin on one of his newest players. "She is a stable person who doesn't really get up or down, and she is a grinder. She's consistent with her emotions and the way she plays. I think maybe one of her biggest strengths is she doesn't have a weakness."
 
Coach Woodin has known Schroefel since the spring of 2017 and echoed what everyone else has said about her when commenting that her weaknesses are hard to spot. With talent in multiple sports, an impressive GPA, a love for people, and an incredible work ethic, Schroefel is the epitome of what every coach wants in a player.
 
No matter what comes her way, Sarah Schroefel has proven that perseverance will always be her answer. Because of this nothing will ever be able to stop her from becoming something great.