COULEE CITY — Christian Berezay, a football player and wrestler from the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors, has been one of two high school athletes selected to represent Washington in the 2026 Patriot Games. The honor felt surreal, he said. 

"I did feel a little weird because I never thought in my life that this would happen to me," Christian said.  

The Patriot Games is a first of its kind event highlighting high school athletes ages 14-17 from across the country as part of the America 250 celebration. According to Freedom 250, the competition will bring together athletes representing states, territories and tribal nations to compete in challenges testing strength, endurance, agility, teamwork and perseverance. One male and female athlete will be awarded a $250,000 prize and the event will be streamed on a national scale.  

Berezay recalled the moment his mother, Melissa Berezay, called with the news. 

"I was with my cousins, and my aunt said that my mom wanted to call me, and at first I was nervous because I thought she was mad at me, but then it turned out to be that I got selected," he said. 

Melissa said Christian is on the autism spectrum and generally interacts comfortably in social settings. 

"Most people don't even know he has autism because when he just does such a good job interacting with people," she said. "Where it really affects him is he could not learn to read. He was working hard, working with tutors and everything like that, but he wasn't progressing past a first grade reading level." 

However, the Food and Drug Administration made leucovorin available as an on-label prescription medication in 2025. This medication is a high dose folinic acid, which can help kids like Christian with communication deficits, according to American Academy of Pediatrics.  

It did not take long to notice the benefits it was having for him, Melissa said. Christian tested at about a second grade reading level in September.  

"We were excited because he had made progress," she said.  

After another test in February, about four months on the medication, placed him at a ninth grade reading level. Not only did he see improvements academically, he also felt an improvement in his sports, as well.  

"He is very self-motivated to get up and go do what he needs to do," Melissa said. "Ever since he started the medication, what was crazy is he was pretty used to losing his wrestling matches, and then all of a sudden, he was winning. He said it was like his mind unlocked, and he was actually able to focus during the wrestling match on what he needed to do, and things were just clicking for him." 

At first Brandon Walsh, the head coach of football and boys wrestling at ACH didn't realize the medication was what helped Christian evolve as an athlete. From his perspective, it just appeared that Christian was naturally progressing having been in the program for over a year, he said. It wasn't until after the wrestling season he was brought up to speed.  

"It kind of made sense, and then even just at the school, like academically, we were seeing a lot of growth," Walsh said. "It's exciting for him. He's such a great kid. You just want him to be successful, and this medicine has allowed him to focus better and that's awesome." 

Walsh has loved having Christian be part of the Warriors athletics program. He noted observing strong character from him, always offering to help out at practice.  

"He's always looking for some way to help out at the end of practice, to haul something into the shed or whatever and put something away," he said.  

Christian's efforts to contribute to the Warriors team and culture never went unnoticed. In 2024 he earned the ACH Good Dude award, which is given out at the end of the football season. The award is an extension of the teams' culture, encouraging players to embody the core values of the Warriors program.  

"Christian's one of those kids," Walsh said. "You never have to worry about him making a poor choice. He's always going to work hard. He's a good dude, and he deserves that award, so we gave it to him." 

Christian will travel to Geneva, Ohio to compete in the Patriot Games from Aug. 9-11. Until then, he plans to prepare by staying active and working out. In addition to the competition, he's excited to meet the other contestants, he said. 

    Christian Berezay (left) eyes his opponent during a match last season with the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors wrestling team.