“Are you wearing ear protection?” junior Sarah Scherer said, looking out for those around her as she prepared to fire a loud smallbore rifle.

Scherer has been the university’s top shooter for the past seven matches in the air rifle competition, but she said she continued to thrive from the encouragement that came from her teammates.

In this individual-driven sport, the university’s rifle members offer each other help and advice. They look out for one another.

Scherer’s accomplishments, among other team members’ personal bests, were some of the highlights of the fall matches.

Scherer shot a perfect 600 against the University of Alaska-Fairbanks last fall, an accomplishment she said she did not expect at this point in her career.

“I was very satisfied even more than excited,” Scherer said. She said it was like an internal pat on the back.

Coach Karen Monez said Scherer was the fourth person in NCAA history to attain a perfect score and the second woman to do so.

Scherer also is tied for first in 2012 U.S. Olympic tryouts with two-time Olympian Emily Caruso, according to gofrogs.com. Scherer, a friend of Caruso’s, said whoever made the team would be the best athlete to represent the United States in the 2012 Olympic Games.
“Being tied with her has helped me stay focused on improving myself as a shooter,” Scherer said

Scherer started shooting when she was 9 years old and practiced with her older brother, she said. She said shooting with him developed most of her skills. Scherer said she considered Fort Worth her hometown and that she received a lot of support from her family, teammates and Monez.

She said Monez had confidence in her and gave her the freedom to make her own choices.

“Her respect for me in that way has actually increased my confidence level,” Scherer said.
Scherer, a junior nutrition major in the coordinated dietetics program, said she stayed busy balancing practices, matches and school work.

She said when she graduated, she eventually wanted to work internationally with people who have nutritional deficiencies as a registered dietitian.

In her free time, Scherer said she attends bible study, listens to an assortment of music, cooks and takes American Latin ballroom dancing.