Dedication. On the field, in the classroom, and with his teammates. Gabe Sims shows his dedication to growing his craft and building a family-like atmosphere for Flathead.

“He may not see all the rewards but he has laid a foundation of what we are growing at Flathead,” Braves basketball head coach Dan Trageser said.

A three sport athlete — football, basketball, and throwing javelin and discus for the track team  — Sims has built a reputation as a leader for doing things the right way. 

“I don't want to miss an opportunity,” said Sims on his heavy sports schedule. “I want to give as many to myself as possible.”

“He does not speak up a lot, but leads by example,” Trageser said. “He knows what he wants from high school and tries to make it happen with his teammates.”

Sims notes that sports have brought him out of his shell more, saying that in middle school he was quite anti-social.

“It just helps me stand out a little bit more,” Sims said. “You just are around people all the time, you can apply that in high school life.”

Sims says that football — his favorite sport to play — really showed him the family aspect that sports can bring.

“It's a brotherhood, your teammates are your friends for life,” Sims said. “The 5 a.m. practices, no one else is going through that but them and you. You go through everything with them.”

Beyond the social aspect, he notes that each sport teaches different skills that can be applied elsewhere on the field and off.

“Leadership, strength and mental toughness,” Sims said. “You aren't always going to win, you aren't always going to play your best game, but you have to keep pushing through.”

Trageser notes how Sims used these traits during basketball season this year, meeting with coaches to see how he could help the team despite only having a small role early in the season.

“He took the changes to heart and has backed up what he can do for the program,” Trageser said. “He helps us grow our culture.”

Sims and the Braves basketball team have shown their mental toughness throughout the season. The wins may not have come for the team, but there is still confidence from Sims that this team can find their way into the state tournament at divisionals in Butte.

“We have always been close,” Sims said. “If we just come together as a team and stop all those mistakes we have been making lately, I think we can come through and make it to state for the first time in a long time.”

In the classroom Sims shows his dedication with a 4.0 grade-point average as a full International Baccalaureate (IB) student.

His academic prowess has netted him an opportunity with the Davidson Honors College at the University of Montana. It’s one of two schools on his list for future education along with Carroll College.

The option for continuing his athletic career remains as well, though Sims notes he is torn on whether to take that opportunity. 

Regardless, they keep coming — including a couple this weekend in Butte.

    Flathead tight end Gabe Sims (84) holds on to a reception in the second quarter against Missoula Big Sky at Legends Stadium on Friday, Sept. 8. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)