The West Anchorage High School tennis team is preparing to defend its dominance at the 2026 ASAA State Championships. Led by first-year head coach Ben Larson, the Eagles aim to secure an unprecedented eighth consecutive state title during the three-day event at the Alaska Club East.
Chasing an eighth consecutive title at Alaska Club East
The West Anchorage Eagles are attempting to extend a dynasty that has defined Alaska high school tennis for nearly two decades. Since the first sanctioned championship in 2007, the program has amassed 12 state team titles, a record of excellence that the team seeks to bolster. According to the report, the Eagles enter the 2026 tournament following a ninth conseutive Region IV championship victory.
The tournament schedule is set for a three-day window at the Alaska Club East, running from Thursday through Saturday. Finals are scheduled to begin at 10:45 a.m. on Saturday, with the singles matches following at noon for both the boys and girls divisions.. This transition in leadership comes as Ben Larson moves from a decade-long tenure as an assistant to the head coaching role.
Lana Cebrian and the Cebrian family rivalry
The girls' division features high-ranking Eagles who are expected to contend for individual honors. Senior Lana Cebrian enters the tournament as the top seed in the girls' singles draw, following a recent regional victory where she defeated her sister, Cherish Cebrian, who is the third seed. Cebrian described her recent regional win over her sister as feeling "like a glorified practice match."
In the doubles category, the pair of Maria Hrgovic and Grace Yang holds the second seed . After several years of finishing as runners-up, the duo is looking to translate their season-long dominance into a state championship victory. Their performance will be critical in maintaining the Eagles' overall team standing.
Adam Kaufman’s resilience against Lathrop’s J. Li
Junior Adam Kaufman is positioned as a central figure in the boys' singles bracket, where he will face J. Li from Lathrop in the opening round. Kaufman’s path to the 2026 championships has been defied by physical grit; the source reports that he recently managed a painful back knot while competing for his region title.
Kaufman's ability to perform under physical duress—highlighted by a daring between-the-legs shot during a critical set point—will be a key factor as he chases his first state title. His ability to adapt to injury will be tested against the high-level competition expected in the boys' singles draw.
Can Service and Juneau disrupt the Eagle dynasty?
Several external factors could disrupt the Eagles' pursuit of an eighth straight title. Coach Larson has noted that the team will face stiff competition from Region IV rivals like Service, as well as formidable entries from Juneau and Lathrop. One significant unknown is how the team will navigate a shorter-than-usual regional calendar, which may impact their preparation rhythm.
The doubles draw also features high-stakes matchups, including West's pairings against the Perkins/Hung duo from Service and a pair from Chugiak.. With the tournament featuring a packed bracket, observers are left to wonder if the Eagles' talent depth can withstand the combined pressure of these seasoned regional opponents.
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