WILSONVILLE – For 3A fans, players and schools, the big news was not McLoughlin dropping down to the Eastern Oregon League, but the magnitude the ranks of 3A schools grew as the Oregon School Activities Association announced classifications starting in 2022. The decision is in place for the next four years.
The schools playing 3A ballooned from the current 35 to 45 participants. Joining the MacHi Pioneers in dropping down from 4A to 3A is Valley Catholic, Sisters, Elmira, Siuslaw, North Valley and Corbett. Bumping up from the 2A class to 3A is Coquille, Neah-Kah-Nie, Sheridan, Jefferson, Glide, Rogue River and Lakeview.
The new classifications do not determine football as a special committee will assign football leagues. That committee’s first meeting is Dec. 20.
For the Eastern Oregon League, the teams will be Burns, the Pioneers, Nyssa, Riverside, Umatilla and Vale. McLoughlin replaces Irrigon as the Knights dropped down to 2A. MacHi has frequently played EOL teams as nonleague opponents over the last few years.
The change will be after league play is completed and the EOL champion enters state playoffs. Ten new teams, many with a much greater number of students, will now be in the hunt for a state title. The 3A ranks now have the distinction of the greatest discrepancy between small and large schools within the class (the 1A is not included in this as there is no minimum number of students to qualify for 1A).
Playing in the 3A will now include Lakeview (146 students) possibly playing Brookings-Harbor (309 students) in a state playoff game (a difference of over twice the number of students).
Prior to the final decision on classification, a number of school officials made impassioned pleas to play down at the 2A level including Umatilla, Riverside and Neah-Kah-Nie.
The following is the new leagues effective fall of 2022. The student population is also included.
3A Lewis & Clark League
Catlin Gabel 266
De La Salle North Catholic 213
Horizon Christian 99 (The Hawks requested and were granted to play up to 3A)
Oregon Episcopal 233
Portland Adventist 158
Valley Catholic 275
Westside Christian 142 (The Eagles requested and were granted to play up to 3A)
3A Coastal Range League
Banks 269
Corbett 213
Neah-Kah-Nie 158
Rainier 177
Riverdale 179
Warrenton 177
Yamhill-Carlton 184
3A PacWest Conference
Amity 169
Dayton 187
Jefferson 151
Santiam Christian 167
Scio 165
Sheridan 148
Taft 266
3A Mountain Valley Conference
Creswell 240
Elmira 307
Harrisburg 160
La Pine 266
Pleasant Hill 236
Sisters 302
Siuslaw 234
3A Far West League
Brookings Harbor 309
Cascade Christian 153
Coquille 188
Douglas 259
Glide 148
Lakeview 146
North Valley 290
Rogue River 173
South Umpqua 244
St. Mary’s 238
Sutherlin 268
3A Eastern Oregon League
Burns 164
McLoughlin 290
Nyssa 158
Riverside 158
Umatilla 211
Vale 169