Underdogs: Columbia Adventist’s Run to State
By: Josh Boyko and Dustin Comm
In the Washington State’s 1B bracket, small schools like Columbia Adventist Academy (CAA) of Battleground, Washington, aren’t supposed to belong. Bigger schools are supposed to walk over teams like the Kodiaks. But the 2025-26 season for CAA became an exercise in rewriting prophecy, a visceral display of what happens when preparation meets destiny.
A big reason for the Kodiak’s success this season: senior Evan Akrawi, who made a huge jump from 13 points per game as a junior to 21 points and 5 rebounds this year. But stats only tell the surface story. The real grit lies beneath. According to Coach Jon Weil, the idea of reaching the state tournament was intrinsically tied to Akrawi’s emergence. “Without Evan Akrawi, we don’t make State,” Weil stated plainly.
“Without Evan Akrawi, we don’t make State,” said head coach Jon Weil. "I can't say enough about how much work he put in."
Akrawi’s success wasn't born of natural talent alone; it was earned in the quiet of an empty gym, and the unforgiving embrace of the weight room. As a junior, he was a known quantity, primarily a threat from beyond the arc. But somewhere between the end of that junior season and the start of his senior campaign, a shift occurred. “That was the biggest jump, between his junior and senior year; not only skill-wise, but I can't say enough about how much work he put in,” Coach Weil recalled. The work wasn't just building skill; it was a physical and mental evolution. Akrawi “got stronger in his build and hit the weights, which allowed him to progress in his senior year,” Weil noted. This was the grindstone where a perimeter specialist was sharpened into a multi-faceted offensive weapon.
Akrawi himself confirmed the shift in philosophy, a move from finesse to force. “Prior to this year, I would say I was mostly a three-point shooter,” he admitted. The new reality: “I developed more of a drive. I didn't shoot a ton of mid-range, but I like getting to the basket and getting layups and shots inside the paint.” He traded smooth jumpers for hard contact, perimeter spot-ups for paint touches.
“My dad loves basketball… he’s been my personal coach, my personal trainer, my whole life.” - Evan Akrawi
This transformation was the result of powerful mentorship from two pivotal figures: Coach Weil, who helped to coach him all four years, and his father. Akrawi speaks with gratitude about the relationship: “My dad loves basketball and he knows the game pretty well. So he's been my personal coach, my personal trainer, my whole life.” The game became a bond between the two. “Basketball really brought me closer to him,” Akrawi shared. The relentless encouragement and pushing was key. As Akrawi acknowledged, “I would be nowhere close to where I'm at if I didn't have him.”
Coming into the 2025-2026 season, armed with a transformed leader and a grueling summer of work, the Kodiaks launched into a regular season designed to test their mettle. Coach Weil had deliberately sought out the toughest regular season schedule he could find, determined to temper the team for the postseason crucible. Early adversity struck when a starter suffered a significant injury in game one, leading to a sluggish 4-3 start. But the team, anchored by Akrawi, withstood the pressure. They rallied, ripping off nine wins in their next eleven games, solidifying their path toward state with a 19-9 overall record and a second place finish in Columbia Valley’s District 1B.
“It’s funny when you make it to that level at State. You have the top 20 teams and there's Columbia Adventist at #17. Everyone's marking you off the board saying, ‘They’re playing a higher seed, they got no shot.’” - Coach Jon Weil
But the true story, the chapter that defines their gritty legacy, was written during the state tournament run itself. As the #17 seed, Columbia Adventist was the definition of an underdog. They arrived at the tournament knowing the whispers. Coach Weil captured the atmosphere perfectly: “It’s funny when you make it to that level at State. You have the top 20 teams and there's Columbia Adventist at #17. Everyone's marking you off the board saying, ‘They’re playing a higher seed, they got no shot.’”
They had been dismissed, yet they kept winning. Their first challenge was Willapa, a team that had handed CAA three losses during the regular season. This wasn't just a game; it was a psychological wall. The Kodiaks devised a game plan, executed, and pulled off a stunning win, earning their ticket to Spokane. But another familiar foe was waiting. In Spokane, they faced Wahkiakum—another formidable league rival who had beaten Columbia three times during the season, with CAA managing only one win against them. These were demons that had been haunting them all year, and they faced them in the biggest arena. The result: another hard-fought victory. This was the toughness Coach Weil admired. “I can't say enough about this group's toughness and willingness just to keep going and fighting to the very end,” he stated.
The victory over perennial foes cemented the season as an "epic run and something I'll remember forever," according to Weil. The Kodiaks showed that passion and persistence trump pedigree. Evan Akrawi’s leadership was never more evident than in those pressure-cooker state games, proving that his personal growth translated directly into team success.
“I can't say enough about this group's toughness and willingness just to keep going and fighting to the very end.” - Coach Jon Weil
As the dust settles on the season, Akrawi’s hard work continues to pay dividends, earning him a 2026 AdventistHoops All-American selection. It’s a moment of validation that brings the whole journey into sharp focus. “It's super nice to see the work that I have put in to pay off, you know, and all the work my dad has put in was really nice to see that,” Akrawi shared, looking forward to the opportunity to showcase his progress.
The story of Columbia Adventist Academy isn't about championships, but about overcoming the inevitable forces aligned against a small school. It’s about a team that refused to accept their seeding, and a star player whose commitment to the gym and the weights—and the critical mentorship of his father and coach—turned him from a great shooter into a relentless scorer. In the gritty annals of Washington high school basketball, the 2025-26 Columbia Adventist Hawks, led by Evan Akrawi, will forever be remembered as the #17 seed that learned how to win when everyone else had already marked them off the board.
