By Terra Avilla
Every now and then, Susanville quietly produces someone the rest of the world suddenly “discovers,” and we all have the same reaction: wait… you mean Ben Wade?
Yes. That Ben Wade.
To the millions watching Survivor, he is the “Dragon Slayer,” the larger-than-life personality with a nickname that sounds like it belongs in a fantasy novel and a presence you cannot ignore.
But here in Susanville, while there still is some mystery about the man, the myth the legend, there certainly are no dragons. He is just Ben Wade, the nice guy you see at practice, at performances, at school events and around town, doing what he has always done: showing up.
And if you ask anyone local, that is exactly why he matters.
Because long before the cameras, the edits, and the dramatic music cues, Coach has been pouring himself into this community. At Lassen High School, he is a driving force behind the drumline, helping shape not just musicians, but disciplined, confident students who learn how to work together, perform under pressure and take pride in what they create.
If you have ever felt the energy of that drumline echo across a field or through a gym, you have felt a piece of his impact.
But it does not stop there.
Ben’s fingerprints are all over the local music scene, from orchestral involvement to community performances, quietly strengthening the arts in a town where that kind of dedication does not always get the spotlight it deserves. He is one of those people who makes things happen. People flock to him and adore him.
Because while the world is just now catching up to his charisma, intensity, and yes, his flair for the dramatic, we have had a front-row seat to something far more important: Consistency. Community. Commitment.
And for some of us, the most memorable moments are not on a television screen at all. They are the quiet, ordinary ones like the million times I have seen Ben and Jessica out in the afternoons, just peacefully strolling through town with their dogs. No audience, no spotlight, just a family enjoying each other and where they live. That is the version of Ben I have always known.
In fact, about five years ago, Peach became unexpectedly invested in Survivor, and there was a moment of absolute disbelief when it clicked: “Coach”… was Lena’s dad. The same Ben Wade. The one who lives here.
The one you could quite literally run into during Awana pickup and drop-off. It is hard to reconcile a television persona known for epic monologues and “Dragon Slayer” energy with someone standing casually in a church parking lot, waiting on kids like the rest of us—but that is exactly the point.
And let’s be honest, it is a little funny watching people analyze him like some kind of enigma when we know the truth. The “Dragon Slayer” still has to run errands, show up to rehearsals, and probably answer texts like the rest of us. The legend might be new to everyone else, but the person is not new to us.
He lives here. He works here. He is raising his family here, a beautiful family that reflects the same energy, creativity, and heart he brings to everything he does.
So yes, we have written about Ben before. But moments like this… when the spotlight swings his direction again are worth pausing for. Not because we are surprised, but because it gives us a chance to remind ourselves what we already have.
A community member who invests in our kids.
An artist who strengthens our programs.
A personality big enough for television, but grounded enough to stay rooted here.
The world may know him as the Dragon Slayer.
I just know him as Ben.
And honestly, I like our version better.
