Much to Lewiston’s pleasure, senior Fletcher Wadsworth is a born and bred Bengal.

“Lewiston football is everything to me,” Wadsworth said. “It’s amazing to be a part of this program.”

A varsity starter since his sophomore year, Wadsworth attended Sacajawea Middle School and played opposite fellow Lewiston seniors Mason Way and Gage Steiner.

Both Jennifer Middle School kids were elated when their days of getting chased down by Wadsworth, who experienced a 6-inch growth spurt in seventh grade, were over.

“Once we saw Fletcher, it was like, ‘Thank God, this kid’s finally on my team,’” Steiner said. “It wasn’t very fun playing against him.”

Wadsworth’s leadership is example-based. Way said that the senior’s two years as a varsity starter and uplifting personality have earned him the respect of his peers.

“He’s a great guy,” Way said. “Always picking people up, just never, never sad, never doubting. If the game’s not going right, he’s just gonna keep going.”

Hobart’s Year 1 is Wadsworth’s fourth and final year of high school. The senior has his sights set on winning the league title and a playoff run.

Wadsworth has put the time in to be great and has already played an essential role in defining the new age of Bengal football.

‘Small-town mentality’

As a former seven-year assistant to Hobart at Kendrick, Deary coach Tim Olson said he often gets asked how the Lewiston native has grown as a coach.

Olson said that Hobart was often short with kids, which would sometimes drive players away from the program.

However, he soon honed his ability to tone back the broad discipline and coach kids different ways depending on their personality.

“He’ll say he’s just getting soft in his old age,” Olson said. “(Knowing) how to get the best out of everyone on his team, I think, is a strength of his.”

Olson said that it may take Hobart some time to develop his program at the 5A level; however, the quality of coaching staff that he has assembled bodes well for the Bengals’ future.

“(Hobart is) a program builder. He knows what he’s doing,” Olson said. “You can tell he’s setting that program up for success in the long run, you got some great minds in there.”

Great minds who are rooted in Lewiston.

“It’s huge for Lewiston. I feel like it almost turns into that small-town mentality of like, camaraderie and family,” Olson said. “You’re getting one of your own back.”

That’s exactly how Wadsworth and the Lewiston football team feel.

“I love him,” Wadsworth said of Hobart. “I’ve heard great things about him, but now that he’s coached me, I love him even more. You know, he’s part of our family now.”

Taylor can be reached at 208-848-2268, staylor@lmtribune.com, or on X or Instagram @Sam_C_Taylor.