Who Will Be 4A Champs in 2026-27?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a truly wide-open race in 2025-26, it ended up with Marist on top of 4A in Forest Grove at the state championships. The Spartans will be back to defend their title but once again it looks as if the classification will once again be a free-for-all - and it's even even more wide open with the additions of some contenders moving up from the 3A level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marist may not necessarily be an overwhelming favorite to win it again in 2026-27 but they'll unquestionably be in the conversation. Three starters from last year's title game are back in [player_tooltip player_id='3566279' first='Aarav' last='King'], Colton Borosek, and [player_tooltip player_id='3566275' first='Gabe' last='Dietmeyer'] for head coach Bart Pollard, and the likely two new guys in the lineup will be Bodey Drennan and Fletcher Pollard, both of whom had big games in the state tournament. Last year's runner-up La Grande, returns a number of key players and should contend out of the Greater Oregon League. Two others looking to return to the state tournament in Hidden Valley and Scappoose should also be factors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Intersetingly enough a team that missed the state tournament that could be considered the slight favorite may be Marshfield. The Pirates are loaded with returning talent, starting with sophomore sensation [player_tooltip player_id='2916645' first='Max' last='Ainsworth']. A couple of traditional challengers in Cascade and Philomath have plenty of guys back who are now more experienced and ready to make a run. And perhaps the biggest wildcard comes as a result of classification. Moving up from 3A, Banks, Cascade Christian, and last year's champ Valley Catholic all have the talent and experience to make just as much impact at 4A as they did last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can Marist repeat or will there be a new champion in 2026-27? Vote for your pick for this next year's 4A Champ!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://poll.fm/17302408","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"crowdsignal","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-crowdsignal wp-block-embed-crowdsignal"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://poll.fm/17302408 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->