Built in the trenches
Gowanda-Pine Valley football linemen, seniors carry lessons from field to futures
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GOWANDA -- For five members of the Gowanda/Pine Valley Panthers football team, success begins with doing the work that often goes unnoticed.
As offensive linemen, seniors Dalen Stevens, Isaiah Washington, Porter Lemke, and Cameron Howard, along with sophomore Elliott Graham, play a critical role in the team's success.
Their job is to create opportunities for their teammates, protect the quarterback, and open running lanes, often without receiving the recognition that comes with scoring a touchdown or making a highlight-reel play. It's a role that requires strength, discipline, trust, and a willingness to put the team first. Those same qualities are helping shape the students' futures beyond the football field.
Four of the five linemen are seniors enrolled in Career & Technical Education programs at the LoGuidice Educational Center, where they are developing practical skills and exploring career opportunities that will carry them into life after high school.
Stevens, of Gowanda, is enrolled in the Automotive Body Repair program through Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES. Washington and Lemke, also from Gowanda, are studying Conservation/Natural Resource Management, while Howard, of Pine Valley, is enrolled in Welding/Metal Fabrication. Graham, a sophomore, rounds out the group on the offensive line as he continues to explore his own interests and plans for the future.
COACHING A CULTURE OF TEAMWORK
Although their programs prepare them for different career paths, the students share an experience that connects the classroom, the shop, and the football field: learning to work hard, trust others, and take responsibility for their roles.
"Being an offensive lineman, first off, is a very selfless job," said Panthers coach Brett Ebling. "It's the hard work behind everything, and if they aren't doing their job, the whole team isn't going to execute at all."
Ebling, who has coached football for 12 years, said offensive linemen do much of the work that makes a team's success possible, even if their contributions do not always receive the same attention as those of other positions.
"They're the guys who run this team," he said. "They're the hardest-working guys on this team, but the most selfless guys on this team."
Ebling also sees value in the students' involvement in Career & Technical Education at E2CCB, where they can explore potential careers while gaining practical experience.
"Anything to provide kids with an opportunity to excel in any way, whether it's sports or programs like BOCES, is just awesome," Ebling said. "When kids do multiple things like that, it just puts them in a better direction for their future."
TEAMWORK THROUGH CHALLENGES
Washington, who is entering his second year in the Conservation/Natural Resource Management program at LoGuidice, plans to join the U.S. Army after graduating from Gowanda and hopes to pursue an airborne role.
He sees his CTE experience as a way to build knowledge that could be useful in a variety of military occupations, including jobs involving heavy equipment and outdoor work. Learning about the natural environment has also given him a foundation he can continue to build upon as he considers his options.
On the football field, Washington has learned that success depends on the strength of the group, particularly when things become difficult.
"Just the brotherhood and teamwork, just having that great bond," he said of what he values about playing football.
That bond becomes especially important when a game does not go as planned.
"When things don't go your way, you can't point the finger," Washington said. "You have to stay together."
PURSUING A PASSION THROUGH HARD WORK
Howard, the Pine Valley senior in LoGuidice's Welding/Metal Fabrication program, has already identified the career he wants to pursue. After graduation, he plans to attend trade school in Missouri to continue his welding education, with the goal of becoming a pipe welder.
His interest in welding developed through hands-on experience and a growing appreciation for the trade. Although his father had done some welding, Howard discovered the career path for himself.
"The more welding I do in there at BOCES, the more I love it, and that's probably what I want to do for the rest of my life," he said.
His time at LoGuidice has helped him turn an interest into a clear career path while reinforcing the importance of hard work and continually striving to improve.
Those same qualities shape his approach to football.
"I don't like to take plays off," Howard said. "I try to do as much as I possibly can for my team and just keep pushing until the end."
For Howard, the connection between welding and football is straightforward. Both require persistence, effort and a willingness to keep learning. In the shop, those qualities help him develop the technical skills needed for a future career. On the field, they help him fulfill his responsibilities to his teammates.
BUILDING PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE
Lemke, another Gowanda senior enrolled in Conservation/Natural Resource Management, plans to attend Alfred State College to study land surveying.
Through his CTE program, Lemke has developed an appreciation for working outdoors, managing land, and understanding what property owners need. Those experiences have helped him explore a career that combines technical knowledge with practical, hands-on work.
He also recognizes how the lessons of football can prepare him for the challenges ahead.
"It teaches me patience, but also about having grit and toughness," Lemke said.
That combination of patience and perseverance is important in both settings. Working with land requires an understanding of the environment and the ability to navigate difficult conditions. Playing on the offensive line demands a similar willingness to stay focused and fulfill a responsibility, even when the work is physically demanding.
For Lemke, the skills he is developing at E2CCB and through football are complementary parts of his preparation for adulthood.
BUILDING SKILLS BEYOND THE FIELD
Stevens, the Gowanda senior enrolled in Automotive Body Repair, is considering a future in construction after graduation. Although his career plans may take him beyond the automotive industry, he recognizes the value of developing practical skills and learning to work with different tools and equipment.
His experience at LoGuidice has reinforced the importance of time management, teamwork, and learning new things. Those skills can apply across industries, particularly in jobs that require employees to coordinate with others, manage deadlines, and complete tasks safely and efficiently.
On the offensive line, communication is essential. Players must understand their assignments and work together to give the quarterback time to make a play. Stevens sees a connection between those responsibilities and the importance of working effectively with others in a future job.
The ability to manage time, communicate and follow through on responsibilities can carry over into nearly any workplace, particularly in fields where coordination and attention to detail matter.
LOOKING AHEAD WITH PERSISTENCE
As a sophomore, Graham has more time to explore his options. The young lineman is considering college, with interests in business and finance, and has expressed interest in a business-focused educational pathway.
For now, he is continuing to build the habits that can help him succeed regardless of which direction he ultimately chooses.
Asked what matters most in his role on the field, Graham emphasized keeping his head up and pushing through life's challenges. It is a mindset, he said, that has been instilled in him throughout his life.
That perspective reflects a broader lesson shared by the group: progress requires persistence, especially when the path forward is not always easy.