Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
    • Elijah Decious
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
  • Digital Edition
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • Digital Edition
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • Elijah Decious
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

Brucemore celebrates 40 years of being open to the public

IMU COVID vaccine clinic coming

Meet the Iowan behind the Vaccine Hunter website

Wellington Heights home gutted in 2017 fire finally coming down

26-year-old man killed in shooting in NE Cedar Rapids

Peggy Whitson to be keynote speaker for Iowa Ideas 2021

Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

Livestream: Funeral for Iowa state trooper Jim Smith

Home / Sports / Iowa Prep Sports / High School Basketball

Xavier’s Ali Schuchmann stayed strong while ‘boxing out cancer’

By Kya Loffswold, Xavier senior Mar. 4, 2021 3:20 pm Updated: Mar. 4, 2021 3:32 pm
Xavier’s Ali Schuchmann stayed strong while ‘boxing out cancer’

CEDAR RAPIDS - Life is all about perspective.

Xavier girls' basketball player Ali Schuchmann found a way to look on the bright side of things despite what she has gone through.

The sophomore was diagnosed with stage III Primary mediastinal B-Cell lymphoma on April 29, 2020. She started her first round of treatments on May 1 and was officially in remission on Sept. 15.

During this time, Schuchmann leaned on her family, friends, teammates and basketball to get through.

'My friends and family have been my biggest supporters and have helped me stay positive, even when times were tough,” she said. 'They were always there for me to have a shoulder to cry on or to just have a laugh with.”

The girls' basketball team found ways to support Schuchmann despite the COVID-19 outbreak during the spring when she was at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital for treatment.

'Upon Ali's arrival home after her first hospital stay, which was 36 days, a surprise parade of cars with teammates, coaches and friends showed her support,” said Rita Schuchmann, Ali's mom. 'The basketball parents also sent many messages of support to me. A simple text saying they were thinking of us meant so incredibly much.

'Coach Stephanie Potts (assistant coach for the girls' basketball team) ordered bracelets with ‘Rally for Ali' to be handed out and the Arnold family (a Xavier girls' basketball family) helped design, order and deliver T-shirts with ‘Big Al - Boxing out Cancer.'”

Ali has grown so much throughout her diagnosis and rehab.

'The crazy thing is Ali never had a pity-party. It is hard to admit, but Ali's attitude kept me in check when I wavered from the positive side,” Rita said. 'During her treatment, Ali often acknowledged how blessed she was that her body tolerated and responded so well to the chemotherapy.

'I am so inspired by how Ali looks at personal situations now. Even if a situation she is in is not ideal and she wants to be upset about it, she is fairly quick to notice others may have it worse off than her, which puts her situation into perspective.”

A big key to Ali's positivity was her ability to continue to play basketball throughout her treatments.

'Basketball has always been a huge outlet for me,” she said. 'This summer my doctors told me that I needed to stay active in between rounds of chemo. I thought what better of a way to stay active than to play basketball.

'So after a little convincing, my doctors agreed to let me play AAU basketball in between treatment. This was a great distraction from always being so focused on my health.”

Ali's ability to continue to play basketball for Xavier this season has brought her and her parents joy.

'Ali knew the game was moving fast and worked outside of practice on shooting and agility,” said Dave Schuchmann, her dad. 'She embraced the opportunity to play on the JV2 team where she was able to get back into her rhythm. Coach (Erica) Kearns provided encouragement, which was exactly what Ali needed.

'We saw Ali's performance improve each JV2 game, which carried over to the JV1 games. Ali's confidence has increased and she now feels closer to her ‘basketball normal' and is ready to contribute to the varsity team when called upon. The cancer is gone, but it left its fingerprints on Ali's game and confidence.”

Emma Arnold, a sophomore who played on the Xavier's varsity team, has been playing with Ali on Team Iowa since they were in sixth grade. They immediately connected through their sense of humor and have been friends ever since. Basketball has been something they have shared for a long time.

'Ali is a true warrior and one of the strongest people I know. Nothing can get in the way of Big Al, through all of her treatments she has remained positive,” Arnold said. 'She continued to come to open gyms, train at CR Performance and attend Team Iowa practices and tournaments. I'm amazed by her dedication and strength to not only recover from cancer but grow as a student-athlete.”

Ali was recognized at the Xavier girls' basketball game on Feb. 9 against Kennedy. The players wore their 'Big Al - Boxing out Cancer” shirts for warm ups and the fans wore them in the stands.

Ali is looking to continue to spread positivity throughout the 11th floor at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital in the near future with her new puppy, Bentley. She has taken him to puppy obedience classes and plans to get Bentley certified as a pet therapy dog once he is old enough.

She wants to be able to give back to the staff members that supported her throughout her journey and any patients who might be going through something similar.

Trending

  • Drake Relays 2021 form chart, after Thursday’s qualification deadline

    Jeff Linder

  • Kylie Feuerbach: Former Cyclone, future Hawkeye

    Jeff Linder

  • We had questions; Caitlin Clark has answers

    Jeff Linder

  • Meet the Iowan behind Vaccine Hunter, the site that helps…

    Michaela Ramm

  • Here’s how to get rid of your derecho tree debris

    Gage Miskimen

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

First event in Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s renovated gymnasium is Monday

First event in Cedar Rapids Kennedy’s renovated gymnasium is Monday

Jeff Linder Iowa Prep Sports Jan. 3, 2021 2:14 pm

Iowa boys' basketball 3A, 4A substate assignments released by IHSAA

Iowa boys' basketball 3A, 4A substate assignments released by IHSAA

Jeff Johnson High School Basketball Jan. 29, 2021 6:07 pm

Iowa high school boys' basketball 2020 brackets: 1A, 2A district…

Iowa high school boys' basketball 2020 brackets: 1A, 2A district…

Jeff Johnson High School Basketball Feb. 10, 2020 2:29 pm

Basketball

UCLA’s Tyger Campbell brings Cedar Rapids with him to Elite…

UCLA’s Tyger Campbell brings Cedar Rapids with him to Elite…

Mike Hlas

Sports Mar. 29, 2021 5:15 pm

As Caitlin Clark’s stardom explodes, her former coach looks on…

As Caitlin Clark’s stardom explodes, her former coach looks on…

Jeff Linder

Sports Mar. 25, 2021 11:29 am

Gazette all-area boys’ basketball: Trey Shearer, Tim Lambert headline 2020-21…

Gazette all-area boys’ basketball: Trey Shearer, Tim Lambert headline 2020-21…

Jeff Johnson

High School Basketball Mar. 20, 2021 11:22 pm

Gazette all-area girls’ basketball: Sasha Koenig, Scot Moenck headline 2020-21…

Gazette all-area girls’ basketball: Sasha Koenig, Scot Moenck headline 2020-21…

Jeff Linder

High School Basketball Mar. 21, 2021 10:05 am

Iowa Prep Sports

Keeping fit during quarantine is important

Keeping fit during quarantine is important

By Max Berry-Stoelzle

Iowa Prep Sports Apr. 16, 2021 12:38 pm

State-qualifying track and field assignments are released

State-qualifying track and field assignments are released

Jeff Linder

High School Track and Field Apr. 16, 2021 10:34 am

Drake Relays 2021 form chart, after Thursday’s qualification deadline

Drake Relays 2021 form chart, after Thursday’s qualification deadline

Jeff Linder

High School Track and Field Apr. 16, 2021 8:07 am

Linn-Mar girls’ soccer picks up where it left off after…

Linn-Mar girls’ soccer picks up where it left off after…

Nathan Ford

High School Soccer Apr. 15, 2021 11:04 pm

Sports

5 things I’m watching at my first Iowa football open…

5 things I’m watching at my first Iowa football open…

Leah Vann

Hawkeye Football 43m ago

Photos: Iowa Hawkeyes softball vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Photos: Iowa Hawkeyes softball vs. Northwestern Wildcats

Jim Slosiarek

54m ago

Kylie Feuerbach: Former Cyclone, future Hawkeye

Kylie Feuerbach: Former Cyclone, future Hawkeye

Jeff Linder

Hawkeye Basketball 90m ago

Working for the Weekend: Hard work powers Central’s Blade Durbala…

Working for the Weekend: Hard work powers Central’s Blade Durbala…

K.J. Pilcher

Sports 90m ago

News

Iowan accused of assaulting officers during Capitol riot

Iowan accused of assaulting officers during Capitol riot

Washington Post

Crime and Courts 24m ago

Michael Richards, reappointed to the Board of Regents

Michael Richards, reappointed to the Board of Regents

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 2h ago

100 days after attack, Hinson wants Capitol fence to be…

100 days after attack, Hinson wants Capitol fence to be…

James Q. Lynch

Government & Politics 90m ago

Cedar Rapids has chance to pitch request for $39.5M to…

Cedar Rapids has chance to pitch request for $39.5M to…

Marissa Payne

News 90m ago

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Gazette Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company