Goldendale Football 2023: Pride, Identity and 10-2 on the season
Photo Essay and story by Mike Salsbury
Goldendale, Wash., November 2023 - Like so many citizens of small towns in rural Eastern Washington, the people of Goldendale keep score when it comes to maintaining strengths within their community.
First-year football coach Blake Lesko, who was a standout athlete for the Timberwolves over a decade ago, knows this well. He stepped into the head coaching role this season after serving as an assistant.
“Goldendale is special because you have individuals who are deeply connected, bleeding purple and gold—people who understand the history and tradition of our program,” he said.
“At the same time, there are those who may not have witnessed or fully grasped the potential that exists within these programs.”
Lesko, whose team finished 10-2 this season and won the 2B EWAC Championship, sees a transformation taking hold. Six years ago Goldendale was a zero-win program.
“As the program's success has grown, so has the level of community support. There's a resurgence of life within the program, and it's heartening to see.”
Lesko reflected on the philosophies that took hold this season.
“It wasn’t just about winning games. It was about building a team that had each other’s backs no matter what,” he said.
At the beginning of the season, Coach Lesko laid it out for his players. “We looked them in the eye and said no team can beat us other than ourselves.”
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“We emphasized that individual success takes a backseat to the success of the team,” he said. “It’s about sacrificing personal glory for the greater good.”
Arriving in Goldendale, one discovers there are no traffic lights, just a couple four-way stops at never busy intersections. There’s a sign pointing to the Goldendale Observatory and downtown is home to a combination of businesses that include several bars, taverns, restaurants and cafes.
You’ll find artsy murals and a museum. The town had its first ever public arts festival this year, however social service programs and the food bank also occupy downtown office space and serve as a reminder to tough times for many of Goldendale’s citizens.
Enter your favorite grocery store, there are two by the way, and expect the lines to move slower than in a larger city. People are catching up and being neighborly. Most aren’t in a big hurry and most are polite.
A lighted cross shines over the town from atop a grain elevator just down the road from the purple painted stadium, Barthlow Field.
Can this town, where some might joke that life revolves heavily around its many bars and churches, lean back into the tradition and community of high school athletics to find a resurgence from past difficulties?
Coach Lesko thinks so.
“Having a great football program means a lot to the community,” he said.
“It serves as a source of pride and identity, uniting residents around a shared passion. A successful program brings a sense of community spirit, as friends, families, and neighbors come together to support the team. I am still waiting for that movie moment when I see "gone to the game" signs like in Friday night lights.”
This year’s team went farther in state playoff competition than any team in Goldendale’s history. The season ended on Saturday with a 38-0 loss in Wenatchee to Okanogen.
Within this season of accomplishment came several accolades from their league. Matthew Gray was named Offensive Player of the Year. Sam Wilder was named Defensive Player of the Year. Lesko was named Coach of the Year.
“The fact that we gave up 800 yards of rushing on the entire season is a testament to how dominate our defense was on the season. We gave up a combined two touchdowns in our entire league play,” he said.
The Timberwolves lost to a team very likely on their way to a state championship.
“At the end of that last game we looked each and every one of the players in their eyes, and we told them we love you, and we could not be more proud of you," said Lesko.
“The outcome wasn't how we envisioned this journey ending, but those seniors—these warriors—have poured their blood, sweat, and tears into this program for four years,” he said.
“We made sure they understood the impact they've had, not just on the scoreboard, but on the character and work ethic of every player in that locker room … They've given their all, and their dedication has paved the way for the next generation to step up and carry the torch.”
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Football season starts in late summer and ends in the cold of an approaching winter.
It starts at a time where golden light bathes the field of play and spectators arrive in shirt sleeves. The stadium fills up almost as if every week is homecoming and for Coach Lesko it literally is homecoming every week.
“I'm a Goldendale High School alumni, Class of 2011”, says Lesko who was an all-state linebacker and offensive lineman and is in the school’s athletic hall of fame.
“It's a piece of my background that helps me connect with the kids from time to time. During my high school days, I played football, basketball, and baseball,” he said.
In testimony to Goldendale’s rural heritage riders on horseback present the colors for the playing of the National Anthem. Mt. Adams towers over the football field, serving as a picturesque backdrop to the best show in town.
Many of the spectators bring lawn chairs and sit in grassy areas that surround the field. Middle school students wear their team jerseys and old-timers stand around telling stories of past glory days.
The Goldendale pre-game show includes the walkout of players in all-black uniforms as Johnny Cash’s “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” plays over through the speakers at the hometown field.
Players gather in the shadows of the stadium with intense energies before a scout team player, chosen by captains prior to the game to carry the flag, leads his team past a lineup of cheerleaders, family members, and classmates while sprinting onto the field for introductions.
“These traditions are relatively new for Goldendale, born out of a desire to inject new energy into the program,” said Lesko.
“Goldendale had gone through a rough patch, and it felt like some of the old traditions had faded away. We looked in the mirror and realized we needed to create new traditions to revitalize the program.”
He notes that sports programs in Goldendale have been impacted by the pandemic.
“Running on the field with the flag started during the challenging time of coaching in the COVID year. It felt like the world was trying to be divisive, so we thought running the field with our flag as a small rural town would show our unity and hopefully spread that message,” said Lesko.
One can’t help but notice that these football players are having fun throughout their games. Big celebrations follow big plays and the players honor each other’s successes. Most games this year have been blowouts.
There is a bond of authenticity that has been building for the Timberwolves that brings it all together on game night.
“It's about the team genuinely knowing and loving each other.”
While Coach Lesko is looking forward to next season and already noting the need for an improved weight room as an important off-season goal, he reflects on the core group of coaches and their families. Their presence boosted team connections and helped him through this past season.
“You can't forget to mention Kim Sene as our team mom,” he said. Sene is the wife of the Timberwolves’ defensive coordinator.
“She truly embodies the spirit of community and family that makes coaching in Goldendale something special.”
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