'Than The Man' Bison leader joining collegiate tennis team

McCook High senior Nathaniel Miller (center) delivered an official signing cermony on Friday as he’s joining the Coe (Iowa) College men’s tennis program. Nathaniel finished his superb Bison tennis career with a No. 1 singles third-place finish at the Class B state tennis tournament. Besides many McCook teammates and friends, parents Tim Miller (left) and LeAnn Miller (right) joined Nathaniel for Friday’s special moment.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — His five siblings would all agree there’s only one Nathaniel ‘Than’ Miller in their lively family and on two McCook High athletic teams.

Yet coach Matt Wiemers can only hope Nathaniel will inspire “clones” for upcoming Bison tennis seasons.

Than’s not just been a superb No. 1 singles player — be’s become the Bison official “racquet stringer” following former McCook Bison good friend Isaac Hinze.

McCook’s Nathaniel Miller is far from finished with his Bison athletic career though boys tennis finished in October. He’s joined classmate Kaiden Porter to become two of the top high jumpers entering today’s B-6 district track-field meet in Ogallala. Watch for results on mccookgazette.com and in the nest Gazette edition.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

“That’s our second stringer we’re sending to Coe,” Wiemers declared after Nathaniel signed with the Coe College men’s tennis program in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Friday afternoon.

‘Than’ will join previous No. 1 singles player Isaac Hinze, who set the work ethic for what would become McCook High’s historic 2022 Class B state champion boys tennis team.

Nathaniel reached the state finals that fall which produced huge points for a “runaway” Bison title run. McCook finished nearly 20 points ahead of its closest Class B challenger during 2022.

Last fall, ‘Than’ stepped into the even more challenging No. 1 singles spot where he scored more than 35 victories.

He reached the Class B state semifiinals and — though McCook did not repeat as team champs — it was still a strong Class B No. 4 finish.

Wiemers credits so much success to what Nathaniel has brought after joining Bison athleteics as a home-school student.

“He took over thee ‘stringer’ duties from Isaac, and Than sets the tone on how hard everyone needs to work,” the national award-winning coach explained. “He just loves tennis, and he also loves working with kids. That’s why it will be a joy to have him at camps this summer. He’ll show them (campers) the grind it takes to be successful.”

Nathaniel’s then moving into a traditionally strong Coe College Kohawks program.

His path to a top spot on the collegiate courts won’t be easy which should work just fine for Than.

“That’s what I like. I like to push and I like to be pushed,” he said. “It’s been that way here at McCook, and I have enjoyed it.”

Mom LeAnne Miller praised how McCook High’s students and staff have embraced their sons. Older brother Joel helped McCook win that 2022 Class B team title.

Nathaniel was also part of a Bison team earning top academic honors from the Nebraska Coaches Association.

Meanwhile, LeAnne shows how dedicated home school teaching can lead to success.

“We’ve had the best of both worlds,” she concluded.