Love, Gates nominated for scholar athlete award

When Scott Bokelman was charged with nominating players for a state-wide athlete award, the choices were clear.

Bokelman, head coa ch of the Saratoga Panthers, nominated Waddie Love and Ben Gates for the Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award.

The scholar-athlete finalists will receive a plaque and a $1,200 scholarship to be used at the school of their choice. The awards will be presented at the 19th annual banquet for the Wyoming Chapter of the National Football Foundation Saturday in Laramie.

Bokelman nominated Love and Gates based on their leadership and the ability to be a great student at the same time.

Bokelman also said both are very deserving of any award that comes their way. Neither player missed a practice and their willingness to be coached also swayed Bokelman’s decision.

“Both of these boys are very coachable,” Bokleman said. “They are what you would call your model student athletes.”

Love was selected as one of the 12 scholar-athlete finalists, while Gates did not move on in the process.

“It’s a complete honor and a great accomplishment knowing the people nominated me and are willing to consider me for a scholarship like that,” Love said. “All the hard work has paid off.”

Although Bokelman nominated both of the student athletes, the decision of who moved on was not up to him.

“I don’t know if it was based on stats or what, but I’m glad I didn’t have to make the decision,” Bokelman said.

Love and Gates are a pair of athletes who would do everything that was asked of them. This makes both of the student athletes very deserving, Bokelman said.

“Love would do anything we asked him to do. He is a very good vocal leader and he also leads through example,” Bokelman said. “Ben Gates is really similar, but not quite as vocal. Gates’ leadership is more through example. If we were running sprints he would be right there at the top running hard. He had great quarterback leadership and is very intelligent.”

“Not every kid is like that. There are kids that just aren’t coachable. They may be great athletes but you have trouble getting them to do what you need them to do,” Bokelman said. “That separates the leaders from the rest of the kids and it is rare that you have two of them on the football field at the same time, and at the same grade level.”

Gates and Love are seniors this year.

Both athletes also played both sides of the football. Gates played quarterback and safety, and Love played tailback and linebacker on defense.

Love has a cumulative grade point average of 3.71, was a two-time team captain and first team all-conference selection. Love was also an all-state selection.

Love has been selected as an alternate for the annual 2013 Shrine Bowl.

Love re-injured his ankle and did not play the late part of his senior year basketball season to have the problem fixed. His hope is that he will be able to pursue a collage football career after his senior year.

Love has plans to go to college but is undecided as to where he will attend. He wants to continue his education and play football, but Love said his education is the most important thing right now.