MILLER – The athletic career of Alex Schumacher has been one of steady improvement.

The Miller senior has been making himself better the last several years, seeing major improvements from the basketball court to the cross country course.

Schumacher began running cross country in the sixth grade, but only so he could stay in shape for the basketball season. However, his mindset changed when he found out how good he was at running.

“I didn’t think much of it, but it turned out I was decent at it, so I just kept working at it,” Schumacher said.

While Schumacher kept working, he also began seeing results. During his eighth-grade year in 2019, he qualified for the state cross country meet where he placed 108th. The next year as a freshman, Schumacher saw dramatic improvement, placing 38th at the state meet. But it was his sophomore year in 2021 where he saw the climax of his cross country career, finishing fourth individually while helping the Rustlers capture the team championship in their lone season in the Class B ranks. Schumacher said it was great to bring home a state title to Miller.

“I really enjoyed bringing home the team 2021 state championship, because Miller hasn’t won anything since wrestling in ‘99,” Schumacher said. “So, it was good for the community to see that athletics was still working hard in Miller, and it’s good for the youth to see success in the program as well.”

Schumacher finished in 11th place during his junior year, while finishing out his career with a 16^th place finish at the state meet this past fall. Throughout his career, Schumacher ran beside fellow teammate Pierce Baumberger, and the two were usually never too far behind each other on the cross country course as both have had several quality finishes at cross country meets over the years. Schumacher said his relationship with Baumberger has grown both on and off the track over the years.

“We’re always in practice working with each other, so we’ve come to be pretty good friends on and off the race course,” Schumacher said. “At meets, we’re always pushing each other, at practices we’re always pushing each other, and I think that has blossomed both of our skills while running.”

Not only has Schumacher improved his skills on the cross-country course, he has also seen improvement in other sports through the years as well. While Schumacher has enjoyed time competing in cross country, track and field, and basketball, he says there is one that he has more of a passion for.

“I’d probably say basketball just because of the team aspect compared to the other sports where it’s more individual,” Schumacher said. “I’ve spent more time on basketball than the other sports.”

Rustlers boys’ basketball coach Steve Schumacher, who is also Alex’s father, said his son has spent countless hours perfecting his basketball skills in the gym during his career.

“Alex gives 100 percent effort in whatever he does. He puts in many, many hours in the gym working to get better in basketball,” Steve Schumacher said. “His extra time and hard work are good examples for our younger players.”

The younger Schumacher says he enjoys having his dad as his coach.

“I like it because I know I can trust him and he trusts me,” Schumacher said. “I really like the father/son relationship on the court.”

This season, Schumacher has exploded with several high-scoring games, including a 45-point outburst in the season opener against Stanley County on Dec. 7, which is the fifth highest single-game total in school history. Although the Rustlers fell short in the contest 73-69, Schumacher said it was a tale of two halves for him during his scoring barrage.

“The first half it was just like a normal game, I’d say, and then the second half came out and I had 31 (points),” Schumacher said. “I just kept attacking the paint and that opened up everything else and they weren’t stopping it, so I figured I’d just keep trying to score.”

In addition to the 45-point outing, Schumacher has also had several 20-plus point performances, including dropping 32 points in a loss to Crow Creek, 29 points in a win against Redfield, and 26 points in a loss to Mobridge-Pollock, among several other 20-plus point games.

While he has had high-scoring outputs, Schumacher says he focuses on playing a complete game that includes more than just scoring.

“I never really view it as ‘I need to score 20-plus points to win the game,’ I see it as taking opportunities that the defense is going to give me,” Schumacher said. “If they’re going to heavily guard me, then I’m going to find other guys on the court that they’re not guarding as well, and then on the defensive side as well, getting steals and working hard on defense and kind of being the floor general at the same time doing what I can.”

While Schumacher is currently focusing on finishing out his senior year at Miller, he has already made plans for the future. He plans on attending Augustana University in Sioux Falls, where he will participate in cross country and track and field, while also pursuing a degree in Biology. He hopes to pursue a career in physical therapy after he graduates. But for now, Schumacher is spending his time relishing in representing what it means to be a Miller Rustler.

“Being a Miller Rustler just isn’t being in athletics, I think it carries into everywhere you go,” Schumacher said. “People recognize you outside of sports, so I think carrying yourself in the best way, being a winner on and off the court means being a Miller Rustler.”