Worland alum makes history

WORLAND - 2015 Worland High School graduate and Central Wyoming College Rustler Sarah Schroefel competed at the NJCAA National Golf Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla., May 16-19.

The Rustler freshman was the first golfer in school history to qualify for nationals and finished 41 out of 109 golfers during the four-day competition.

Even when she arrived early to take her practice rounds Schroefel was taking in the entire experience. "From the moment we got there I was excited. Dayton Beach is where the LPGA headquarters are located and the best women golfers have walked that course and it was an honor to play the same course," said Schroefel enthusiastically. "The course was beautiful, there was even an alligator walking around one day."

"It was just a lot of fun, there were many people telling me that I was the first person from Wyoming they've met, then I'd have to show them on the map where I was from," Schroefel joked. "The whole time down there was an amazing experience, one that I will never forget."

Sterling Schroefel, Sarah's father, was also proud of his daughter's accomplishments during her first year of college, "Qualifying for nationals is a huge achievement and it's something that she can hang her hat on. It's definitely a proud moment."

With her freshman year at CWC in the books, Schroefel is looking forward to getting back at it and building on the successes of this season. "I'm really excited about next season, nationals showed me what part of my game needs work. Which was my second shot, I wasn't setting myself up well enough and missed out on birdie and par opportunities. So this summer I'll focus on improving that part of my game."

Schroefel also spoke about balancing school and golf, "I was nervous about the fall season, with all the school I was going to miss and not knowing what to expect at the tournaments. Then there's the bad patches every golfer goes through as well. But my coach Pat Rafferty, the golf professionals in Riverton and Worland help me through the bad patches. I also had great teachers who were very helpful with all the time I missed during tournaments."

Schroefel will return to CWC to study and golf for the school. She's currently working toward her major in business administration. Afterward she will continue her education along with her golfing career at a four-year university where she will turn her studies to getting a degree in gerontology with the future plans of owning or managing an assisted living home.