Matthew Schaefer to join Jackrabbit golf team
HARTINGTON — A second Cedar Catholic 2018 graduate will be gol ng at the Division I level in Fall 2019.
That is right, Matthew Schaefer is taking his talents to South Dakota State in Brookings, S.D.
It is the culmination of an impressive story that starts with him picking up the sticks in eighth grade and never looking back.
Schaefer says he did not immediately have the goal of playing at the collegiate level when he started with the sport, but it quickly became an aspiration he knew he could achieve.
“The rst two years I golfed I just kind of did it and it wasn’t really until later in my sopho- more year into junior year that I really started to think about it,” said the Fordyce native. “Even now looking back I never would have thought I’d be here, but it was one of my goals in high school, and I worked hard to get it. Everything paid off.”
After graduating in May of 2018, Schaefer signed to play with Northeast Community Col- lege in Norfolk, where he competed this past Fall. He will be a part of the team this Fall and says it helped open his eyes to the jump in competitiveness.
“The competition was a lot more - if I have
to use one word - consistent,” said Schaefer. “It
was just as good as high school if not better, but it was just a lot more consistent with a lot more depth in competition. That is what made it a lot harder.”
The Cedar graduate says he knew he wanted to make the transfer after one year of competi- tion at Northeast, saying he knew he was ready for the next level of competition.
He said his teammates and coach were ex- tremely helpful in making his goal a reality.
“I can’t thank them enough for everything.”
During his decision process, SDSU stood out for multiple reasons, according to Schae- fer.
“I guess the reason I picked South Dakota State is that the school is good overall. The education that they have is really good, I haven’t heard one bad thing about the school, and the golf program is excellent. The coach is awesome and they have some of the best indoor facilities in the nation.”
When Schaefer heads to Brookings, he will be one of four players from the United States on the team, and the only American from out- side of South Dakota.
He went on his of cial visit this past week- end after committing, and said he knew it was the right t.
“I actually just went on an of cial visit this
weekend and got to hang around with the coaches and players and they are all amaz- ing and welcoming. Just that atmosphere is something I am really looking forward to.”
Before Schaefer heads to South Dakota to begin his Division I career, he will nish his year with Northeast in the Spring golf season.
After a successful Fall, he and his team- mates have some lofty goals for this upcoming season.
“I’ve talked with some of my teammates and my coach [at Northeast] and we would like to do well at Regionals. Then hopefully we can get to Nationals and do well there. I would say our main goal is to put ourselves in the mix at Regionals and try to get to Nationals.”
Once Schaefer heads to Brookings, the real work will start. From talking with his new teammates during his of cial visit, Schaefer caught a glimpse at what the schedule looks like for a D-I athlete.
“During the season it can be ve or six hours on the course, plus school and workouts so it can get very busy. I am really looking for- ward to that. I think it will be good for me and I think it will be a lot of fun.”
Schaefer will enter his time at SDSU as a sophomore, and will have three years of eligibil- ity during his time there.
He has already set some goals, both short term and long term, for what he hopes to ac- complish as a Jackrabbit.
“With South Dakota State, it will be tough to play with some of those kids there, so just put- ting myself in the mix, trying to get in the top ve, go to some tournaments, and maybe win one [this year]. I just want to be competitive with them, and by the end of my career there I want to look back and be able to say to myself that I did everything I could to become as good as I can.”
Schaefer joins classmate Cassidy Ulrich
as the second Cedar Catholic Trojan from the 2018 class to go on to play at a D-I program. Ulrich signed with the University of Nebraska- Omaha this past summer and redshirted dur- ing her rst year.
He is the sixth Trojan to sign with a Divi- sion-I program, joining Russ Hochstein, Craig Wortmann, Shane Kuchta, Stephen Hillis, and Ulrich. He says becoming a part of the unique group means a lot to him.
“It is really special,” said Schaefer. “I know how talented all of those people are and it takes a lot of work and time at practice to get there. I am just glad to be a part of that list and I am really looking forward to getting up there and getting started.”
To read more please log in or subscribe to the digital edition https://etypeservices.com/Northeast%20Nebraska%20News%20CompanyID379/