Superintendent's Message

A Championship for the Ages: CHS Boys Basketball Rises to Glory!

 

There are moments in time when a small town etches its name into history—when hard work, heart, and grit collide to create something unforgettable.For Columbia High School, that moment came in 2025, when a group of determined young men took the hardwood and did what had never been done before. Through every battle fought and every whistle blown, they stood tall. And when the final buzzer echoed through the gym in Spokane, the scoreboard told a story that would never be forgotten. The CHS Coyotes were state champions!

 

This wasn’t just a game; it was a testament to perseverance, to believing in something bigger than yourself. It was for the kids shooting hoops on gravel driveways, for the parents who spent their lives in these stands, for the alumni who never let go of their roots. The roar of the crowd—our crowd—could be heard for miles. They came from all over, filling every seat, turning Spokane into our own fieldhouse. For a few shining days, you couldn’t tell Burbank was just a small town in Eastern Washington. It felt like the center of the basketball world. To our student athletes—Sam Bendotti, Braxton Couch, Tristan Frimodt, Gavin Kinzer, Brandon Leahy, JJ McVicker, Crew Pariera, Caden Ross, Brody Schumacher, Mason Schumacher, Quincy Scott, and Mathew Wilder—you’ve written your names into our history. And to our coaches, Todd Schumacher, Trevor Curtis, and Gilbert Hernandez, your guidance made this dream a reality.

No one does it better than the Coyote faithful. To our Coyote fans, you came from near and far, from country roads and city streets, from the heart of Burbank to wherever life has taken you, because Coyote pride knows no distance. You gave up weekends, pushed aside everything else to be there, because these weren’t just basketball games—they were moments, they were memories, they were a part of something bigger. And when the Coyotes needed you most, you showed up. Loud. Proud. Unwavering.

 

The echoes of this victory will never fade. Someday, another group of boys or girls will take the court, dreaming of their own shot at greatness, inspired by the night CHS climbed to the top. But this moment—this team—will forever be the first. Coyote Nation, this is your championship! This is your story! And it will be told for generations to come.