MICDS’ Scherer signs scholarship to play football at Missouri

Michael Scherer will be getting defensive for the Missouri Tigers.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Scherer will be a linebacker for Missouri. He signed his national letter of intent Wednesday afternoon at Mary Institute Country Day School.

“This is huge for me,” said Scherer, who was wearing a Missouri hat. “It’s officially over with and I’m glad. I never wavered once I decided on Missouri. My family and I talked about this decision and when I made up my mind, I was really solid on it. I wasn’t going to change my mind.”

That resolve did not surprise MICDS coach Josh Smith.

“That’s what you want,” Smith said. “He was mature through the whole process. He took his time and once he decided what he wanted to do, that was it. He’s a tremendous athlete.”

He was one of five football players signing. The others were Thomas Militello (Dartmouth), Todd Hearns (William Jewell), Jack Howell (Brown) and Al Washington (Drake).

“This is a great day for MICDS football,” Smith said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the kids move on and accomplish a lot of great things. We’ll follow them all in some form or another.”

Swimmer Annie Goessling, the defending state champion in the 200 IM, signed to go to North Carolina.

Others signing scholarship letters were Katherine Desloge, tennis for Richmond; Coby Klar, baseball for Grinnell College; Sam Margulis, lacrosse for Trinity University; Nick Rizzo, soccer for Colgate; Claire Townsley, field hockey for Washington & Lee; and Nealey Wallis, diving for New York University.

The Missouri atmosphere sold Scherer.

“It’s a great school,” Scherer said. “They have a family feel there. The coaches are great. I felt so comfortable around them. The whole team made me feel like I was part of their family.”

With Missouri moving to the Southeastern Conference, Scherer will be a part of something new for the Tigers.

“There’s not a better time to going to Missouri,” Scherer said. “I know they’ve got some great recruits coming in. I know (Parkway North’s) Donavin Newsom a little bit. We know we’re going to the same school and we’ve talked about that. I’m looking forward to playing with him.”

Scherer knows he has to work hard to be successful in college at the Divison I level. He wants to improve and be an impact player.

“There’s a big learning curve,” said Scherer, who wants to study business. “I need to get better with my game and get bigger, stronger and faster. I’ll be in the weight room.”

The coaching staff has not told him much about their immediate plans for him.

“We’ll see when I get down there,” Scherer said. “We’ll see how I do, if I’m mentally and physically ready. I may get in some special teams. If I’m not going to a contributor, then I’ll redshirt.”

Scherer, a four-year starter, was a big part of MICDS’ season that ended with a 56-42 loss to Webb City in the Class 4 state championship game at the Edward Jones Dome.

Scherer was the ABC League co-player of the year as a running back and middle linebacker. He rushed for 1,324 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also caught 22 passes for 370 yards and four touchdowns. On defense, he racked up 92 tackles. In addition, Scherer recorded four interceptions and two sacks and he had a fumble recovery.

As a junior, Scherer amassed 1,126 total yards (919 rushing, 207 receiving) and scored 12 touchdowns.He also had a team-high 68 tackles.

“There’s a reason he’s getting a Division I scholarship,” Smith said. “He’s a complete package. He’s mobile. He’s physical. He’s strong. He’s a leader. He’s everything you look for in a football player. He’s got the work ethic to make it. He’ll work his tail off. He’ll keep developing and moving forward.

“He’s a very mature kid. He’s fun to be around.”

His career at MICDS is not something Scherer said he will forget.

“The people here at MICDS are great,” Scherer said. “The coaches are great. I loved every minute of it. It was more than just wins and losses. It’s been awesome. It’s a great community to be in.”

He did it all for the Rams.

“He was even punting for us at the end of the season.

Scherer committed to the Tigers in June after receiving more than a dozen scholarship offers from schools like Stanford, Boston College, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska and Vanderbilt.

“My senior season was good even though we didn’t win it all,” Militello said. “We went through four years of football and it was fun. Coach Smith really helped me. He stuck with me and showed confidence in me and he was really just great to me.”

Militello said once he visited Dartmouth, that was it.

“It was the academics and the coaches that convinced me,” said Militello, who plans to major in economics or international relations. “It was just the whole atmosphere there. I really liked it. When you take a visit there, I think everyone commits when they see it.”

Militello completed 233 of 329 passes for a 71 percent completion rate. He threw for 3,400 yards and 39 touchdowns. Militello was picked off just nine times.

“Thomas showed he can flat out throw the football,” Smith said. “He got better every single game this season.”

The Dartmouth coaches have told Militello they wanted him to come in and compete for the quarterback job.

“I need to learn the playbook and we’ll see how it works out,” Militello said. “I know I need to work on my footwork and learn the details of the offense. The speed of the game will be faster so I’ll have to get acclimated to it.”