As Sims heads to Trine, his leadership will be missed

There was never any doubt that Genoa graduate Dillon Sims would play collegiate soccer — it was just a matter of where.
Sims is heading to Angola, Indiana to play NCAA Division III soccer at Trine University. It wasn’t entirely about soccer, however.
“It was a combination of going to a school that was close enough but still held the degree type program that he was looking for. He wanted to be in engineering and Trine is a pretty solid engineering school and that set him up,” said Genoa coach Tim Memmer.
Sims added, “Honestly, it was the soccer team being a very quality soccer team and their engineering program. I’m looking to go into mechanical engineering — that is what I always enjoyed. I like physics and those are my favorite classes. They gave me an opportunity to do both of those.”
The Northern Buckeye Conference Player of the Year and Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press Co-Player of the Year, Sims led Genoa his senior year with 57 points on 20 goals and 17 assists. He was a first team All-NBC and all-district selection.
“He has been in the top two of our team all four years during his career,” Memmer said. “Even leading in assists, he creates more goals for teammates without touching the ball. His movement off the ball attracts attention to clear out space.”
Memmer, who says his Genoa program will remain in solid shape this fall, says Sims was more than his star senior. Memmer demonstrated talents that helped his team on the field and on the sidelines.
“I could describe him as if he was one of our assistant coaches last year. That was what he meant to the rest of the guys on the field. He was always helping everyone to understand. He knew what I wanted to have done and he really worked that part of it. Pretty much anything, he set the pace for everybody.
“Dillon’s value to our team goes beyond stats. I had a very young team with 11 of our 17 players being freshmen and sophomores,” Memmer continued. “He was a tremendous mentor helping these youngsters get ready over the offseason, keeping them focused through the season, and taking great pride in their success. Dillon was a great assistant coach.”
Memmer said four years of growth helped Sims get to that point.
“You can look at it really two different ways — what he was talent-wise and what he was on the field, in practice, and everything else. From his freshman year on he has always shown to have the talent to play,” Memmer said.
“The growth that happened with him each year in his leadership style and maturity-wise was absolutely tremendous. It is one of the traits you don’t normally see with a dominant player like that is his patience with the rest of the team.”
Sims appreciates Memmer’s comments and his mentorship.
“Honestly, it’s one of the biggest compliments I’ve ever gotten. I like to have that to humble myself and I like being a team player and like seeing other people succeed as much as I do. I just love helping people out,” Sims said.
“He’s (Memmer) been a big influence on me, from summer practices all the way through when I played club for him in the spring, he’s always pushing me, making a greater player, team captain, giving me a lot of pointers and helping me with college coaches. He’s been everything to help me. He’s been a very big part of my career.”
Like most soccer players who move on to the collegiate level, Sims started playing the game at a young age and never stopped liking it.
“I like the fluidity of it and being in intense play constantly. I just love scoring goals and having the whole team around me,” Sims said.
Sims says he has had Zoom calls with his Trine teammates, is following a daily workout plan sent to him by Trine coaches and hopes to “keep that energy going with (his new) teammates.”
In last year’s final Northwest District Division III coaches’ poll. Genoa, at 10-5-3, was ranked 10th. Memmer says Sims was a big reason why.
“He was definitely a big part of it. His leadership on the field would be something for the others to aspire to,” Memmer said.
Last year, Genoa finished one point behind Rossford in the NBC standings. The Comets and Bulldogs tied 2-2 in their first matchup and Genoa won the rematch, 5-4, but the Comets’ 5-4 loss to Eastwood and a 6-6 tie with the Eagles proved to be costly.
Genoa finished strong, winning five straight games to close the regular season. Wins were over Woodmore (4-0), Rossford (5-4), Lake (4-3), Bowling Green (4-3) and Otsego (8-0). The Comets opened the tournament winning a sixth straight, 9-1, over Otsego but lost in the district tournament to defending state champ Archbold (5-0).
Sims is just one of three seniors who graduated, so he believes Genoa could have a solid year in 2020, also.
“I’m excited to see how Genoa does this year. They should have a really good season,” Sims said.