Caleb Schultz runs a busy, busy schedule.
“I’ve been playing [basketball] since the fifth grade,” said Schultz, now a Kremlin-Hillsdale sophomore, who also runs track and competes for the school’s academic bowl team.
His favorite aspect of sports?
“I would say just going out there and competing,” Schultz said. “I love playing it outside of school, as well.”
Though he has never competed for a travel team, Schultz goes to camps and plays with friends whenever he can.
Schultz had a successful sophomore campaign for the Broncs and an impressive start to his varsity career. He led Kremlin-Hillsdale in postseason scoring as only a freshman, beating out even his older brother, Landon.
“I’ve always been very competitive,” Schultz said. “My parents both played sports. My older brother also tried to be the best he could in everything he did. That made me look up to his drive.”
The Schultz parents were both talented athletes. Like Caleb, his mother played basketball and ran track. His father, football, baseball and basketball.
“My brother, Landon, played basketball and ran track and he’s 3 years old. He graduated last year,” Schultz said. “When he was younger, he wasn’t the greatest athlete ever, and he showed me how hustling can get you minutes and how you can make yourself a better athlete purely through hard work. He was our best player last year and was a good runner as well.”
Schultz’s sophomore track year is going well, too. He has medaled several times in the sprints and won gold in the 200m dash at North Rock Creek’s Cougar Classic. It’s a crucial year for Schultz, who was in significant pain and, ultimately, sidelined at the end of his freshman year.
“My whole freshman track season I had a nagging hip injury. I couldn’t get it to go away all season. It was tough because I went to every track meet watching others run, knowing that should be me out there competing,” Schultz said. “It was tough, because I wanted to get out there so bad, but I knew it was best for my health to not run. Also, I ran in a relay with my brother, so it was hard having to say I can’t run it, because we only had four boys. I ran when I could last year, but it was a struggle. But nevertheless, God has truly blessed me to be healthy again!”
That’s what sports is about — “how to deal with failure,” said Schultz, or even circumstances outside of one’s control.
“Whether I’m shooting bad, or maybe I’m losing a game or not running a time I usually hit,” Schultz said. “Just learning how to bounce back from that adversity and mentally get ready for the next race or game.”
Schultz also follows his brother’s example in aspects outside of sports.
“In the classroom, [Landon] stressed hard work there too,” Schultz said. “[Academics] are very important to my family, and I’m planning on going to college so they help with that.”
Schultz has competed in academic bowl since seventh grade.
“I really like our coach. He really makes it fun. I really love our practices,’ Schultz said. “We get a lot done, but we have fun with it. The people are awesome. I mainly do it because it’s fun.”
After high school, Schultz plans to attend college to study either a math or science-related major.
“I’m open to maybe playing sports if that opportunity were to present itself,” Schultz said. “God has blessed me with the ability to play sports, and to Him be the glory!”
