At Point Loma Nazarene University, Schaefer (playing under her maiden name Bolding) was a four-time first team all-GSAC player, a four-time NAIA All-American, a three-time GSAC Player of the Year winner, and a two-time NAIA National Player of the Year.

Schaefer helped the Sea Lions with two GSAC and two Region II titles and was a part of three teams that made the NAIA National Championship Tournament where they finished 2nd in the nation in 2002.

Schaefer still ranks in the NAIA top-10 in numerous offensive categories and her name is in the PLNU university career and single season record book in 17 places. She was inducted into the PLNU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and to the NAIA Hall of Fame in 2010.

In addition to her collegiate career, Schaefer played for Arizona Heat, a professional softball franchise in the National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) League, for two years (2004-05). In 2004, she led the Heat in hits and earned a spot on the NPF All-Star team. The next season, she hit .389 with a .472 on base percentage with 11 doubles, 28 runs scored and 26 RBI. 

She has a desire to share and give back the knowledge she has learned as a top competitive softball player with young athletes in hopes they are able to fulfill her question: "What if I knew then what I know now!" 

Cheryl played competitive travel softball since 10 years old and earned an athletic scholarship to Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, CA. There she was the starting short stop all 4 years. She was a 4x first team all-GSAC conference player, a 3x NAIA All-American, 3x GSAC-Conference player of the year, and a two-time NAIA National Player of the Year. In 2002 she hit (.478), lead the team in slugging percentage (.589), had an on base percentage of (.506) and stole 46 bases. She led the conference in batting average, runs scored, hits and stolen bases.

Upon graduation Cheryl was drafted to the National Pro Fastpitch League and played Professional softball for the Arizona Heat. In 2004 she lead the team in hits and was named to the NPF All-star team. The next season she hit .384 with .472 on base percentage with 11 doubles, 28 runs scored and 26 RBI. She has been inducted into the Redwood High School Hall of Fame, the Point Loma Nazarene University Hall of Fame and inducted into the NAIA National Hall of Fame. 

Cheryl went on to coach at the college level for 13 years. Her most recent coaching job was at the Division I level at the University of San Diego. She took her teams as a player and a coach to 3 conference championships, 3 regional championships and to 10 NAIA college world series appearances, where they took 2 National runner-up finishes. 

She has a bachelor degree in Business Communications and a Masters degree in Human Performance and Sport. She has taught as a college professor in the Kinesiology department at Point Loma Nazarene University, San Diego City College and currently is an adjunct professor at Northwest Nazarene University. She has also taught Elementary PE. She is married to Joe Schaefer who is the Head Baseball coach at Northwest Nazarene University and they reside in Nampa, ID.