Fall sport practices begin this week, leagues changed

THE GORGE — Fall sports practices begin this week for high school athletes in Oregon and Washington, where they’ll start preparations for season openers later this month.

Oregon high school athletes began practices Aug. 17; Washington football teams begin workouts Aug. 19 while other sports start preseason drills Aug. 24. Competition begins Aug. 27 in Oregon while most Washington sports begin the following week.

Hood River Valley and The Dalles will compete in realigned leagues this fall, as the Oregon School Activities Association revamped the state’s districts this past spring. The OSAA realigns sports districts every four years to essentially account for enrollment changes.

HRV will compete once again — in most sports — in the Class 5A Northwest Oregon Conference, which welcomed Sandy (down from 6A) and St. Helens (up from 4A). The NWOC (see leagues below) no longer includes Wilsonville, La Salle Prep, Hillsboro, and Canby, which are in the newly formed Greater Metro Conference.

The Dalles, a year removed from one of its most successful falls in school history, will compete in the Tri-Valley Conference — with the same schools as the past four years and North Marion. Columbia remains in the Trico League, made up of WIAA 1A schools.

The Dalles finished second in state in 2025 in 4A girls volleyball and 4A girls soccer, was fourth in 4A boys cross country, and won a state playoff game in 4A boys soccer.

The OSAA has special districts for football; the organization takes into account — among other things — school size and competitiveness over the past few seasons. HRV joins Centennial, 6A David Douglas, 6A Gresham, and Sandy in Special District 1. The Dalles plays football in Special District 5 with Baker, La Grande, Ontario, and Pendleton.

Complete league lists

OSAA 2026-2030 5A-1 Northwest Oregon Conference: Centennial, Hood River Valley, Milwaukie, Parkrose, Putnam, Sandy, St. Helens.

OSAA 2026-2030 4A-2 Tri-Valley Conference: Estacada, Gladstone, Madras, Molalla, North Marion, The Dalles.

WIAA 2026 Trico 1A: Castle Rock, Columbia, Fort Vancouver, Kalama, King’s Way Christian, La Center, Seton Catholic, Stevenson.

OSAA 2026-2030 1A-6 Big Sky League: Arlington/Ione, Condon, Dufur, Glenwood/Klickitat, Horizon Christian, Lyle/Wishram, Mitchell/Spray/Wheeler, Sherman County, South Wasco County, Trout Lake.

Special Districts

OSAA Football 5A-SD1 Special District 1: Centennial, David Douglas, Gresham, Hood River Valley, Sandy.

OSAA Football 4A-SD5 Special District 5: Baker, LaGrande, Ontario, Pendleton/Nixyaawii, The Dalles.

OSAA 8-Man Football 1A-SD3 Special District 3: Dufur, Echo, Elgin, Imbler, Joseph, Lyle/Wishram/Klickitat, Sherman.

OSAA 6-Man Football 1A-SD1 Special District 1: Arlington/Ione, Condon, Dayville/Monument, Griswold, Jordan Valley, South Wasco County, Spray/Mitchell/Wheeler, Wallowa.