The 6-foot-1 senior finished second at the Class 4A state meet this past season with a time of 15:43, leading the Tigers to a 15th-place finish as a team. Schillinger won seven of 10 races in 2016 and was the top Iowa finisher at the Foot Locker Cross Country Midwest Regional championships. He is a two-time Class 4A All-State selection and a three-time metro champion.
Schillinger has maintained a 4.0 GPA in the classroom and represents one of the state's top academic candidates in meeting the Gatorade award's broad criteria. He remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.
An outstanding singer, Schillinger has volunteered locally with the Mentors in Violence Protection program at his school and at multiple road races. "Sam was a load to deal with this season, as in the past," said Bill Schwartz, head coach of Prairie High. "He is tough and tenacious."
