Hardworking, chill, nice and competitive are four words that graduate guard Sarah Schmitt characterizes herself as. Schmitt hails from Swisher, Iowa, a town with a population of under 1,000 people.
“There’s not a whole lot in Swisher,” Schmitt said. “It’s a pretty small town, so I went to high school in Cedar Rapids, which was a bigger city and a bigger school. It’s a little bit different than Moscow.”
Schmitt attended Cedar Rapids Prairie High School, where she excelled for the Hawks. In her junior season, Schmitt led the Hawks to a 16-7 record and reached the regional finals.
In her senior season, Schmitt put together the best season of her high school career. She averaged 11 points, six rebounds and 4.3 assists per game, leading the Hawks to another impressive season with an 18-4 record.
Outside of basketball, Schmitt was also a four-year letter winner on the track.
“I did a lot of events. They kind of threw me in whenever they needed me,” Schmitt said. “I did the 100, 200 and 400 hurdles and some long jump. The last couple years of high school, I started to like it. It was super fun to be a part of.”
Schmitt’s hard work on the hardwood and in the classroom led to an offer to play at the University of Nebraska – Omaha.
“I decided (to go to Nebraska) because I really liked the coaching staff, and I also really liked the city. It was a cool place to live,” Schmitt said.
While in Omaha, she appeared in 36 games and came into her own her sophomore year.
She averaged 6.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and three assists per game. After her sophomore year, Schmitt entered the transfer portal and went down to Kearney, Nebraska, as she committed to the University of Nebraska – Kearney.
In her first season with the Lopers, she averaged 5.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and two assists per game, helping the Lopers to an impressive 23-4 season and a berth in the Division II NCAA Tournament. Schmitt and the Lopers would follow up the 2020 season with an even better season in 2021.
Schmitt had the best season of her career, averaging 10 points, four rebounds and four assists per game. Schmitt finished the season with a team-leading 128 assists and helped the Lopers get to their best season in program history.
The Lopers finished with a 28-5 record, winning the regular season Mid-America Conference championship and another place in the NCAA tournament.
After that season, Head Coach Carrie Eighmey left the Lopers to take a job with the University of Idaho, and Schmitt eagerly joined Eighmey in Palouse.
Schmitt, living her entire life in the Midwest, has liked the Palouse.
“It’s a lot different,” she said. “I would say the weather is about the same, but the landscapes are a lot different. I haven’t lived out here, so I am just learning about Moscow.”
Schmitt has enjoyed her time in Moscow and being a Vandal.
“Playing for this team means a lot, especially to be this coaching staff’s first team,” she said. “We get to set the foundation for what it’s going to look like, and I like the direction we are going. It’s been super fun to work together and to learn from each other.”
Schmitt isn’t a guard who shows up a lot in the scoring department but is a lethal passer, always looking to improve her teammates.
“I’m more of a pass-first guard. I look to try and make my teammates better, and when the opportunity comes, I can be aggressive,” Schmitt said
Schmitt has thrived in that role, averaging 7.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game. She has also dished out 62 assists so far this season.
When she is not in the classroom or on the court, Schmitt enjoys exploring the town of Moscow and hanging out with her cat.
“I don’t do a whole lot. I have a pet cat. That’s a lot of fun. I like to walk around town and try new restaurants when I go out. I have also really enjoyed the farmer’s market,” she said.
Schmitt may not be the typical score-first style point guard, but she is a very efficient and crucial part of the Vandals. Her leadership, lethal passing and ability to score in the clutch have helped steer the Vandals to a 10-10 record.
Catch Schmitt and the Vandals as they look to rebound from their loss to Montana State when they host Sacramento State on Monday, Feb. 5 at 6 p.m.
Jayden Barfuss can be reached at [email protected] or on X @JaydenBarfuss10