Everything in life has a story. Sports is no different.
After long layoffs and offseason training, high school athletes return to the field with their expectations high. Clatsop County has seen very good individual and team performances over the past few years and 2026 – 2027 figures to be the same.
Here are some of the storylines to watch.
Redistricting set to change up 4A
The biggest story of this sports season: reclassifications. Every four years, schools throughout Oregon have the opportunity to move up or down a classification. These are based on factors such as enrollment and athletic performance. This year’s reclassification is set to shake up both 4A and 3A.
Powerhouse schools like Cascade Christian, Banks and Valley Catholic are added to the 4A mix, while 3A is set to undergo a reshuffle, too.
Last season, the Cowapa League consisted of Astoria, Seaside, Scappoose, St. Helens and Tillamook. This year, the Cowapa League will add Banks plus Valley Catholic to replace St. Helens. With the Lions moving back up to 5A, Banks and Valley Catholic will join Astoria, Seaside, Scappoose and Tillamook.
Banks and Valley Catholic are lined up to be potential spoilers this fall sports season. The Braves are one of the best football teams in the entire state regardless of classification and Valley Catholic are the returning 3A State Volleyball Champions.
Warrenton is also set for a major reshuffle in its opponents. Last season, the Warriors were in a league with Banks, Corbett, Neah-Kah-Nie, Rainier, Yamhill-Carlton and Riverdale for volleyball. This season, the Warriors will have Catlin Gabel, Corbett, Neah-Kah-Nie, Oregon Episcopal and Rainier as opponents on the volleyball court. On the football field, Warrenton will be in 3A Special District 1. They are set to play Amity, Dayton, Horizon Christian Tualatin, North Marion, Santiam Christian and Yamhill-Carlton. Due to shuffles, North Marion and Yamhill are the only returning league opponents from last season’s schedule.
Can Astoria football survive gauntlet?
The Astoria High School football team has fallen on hard times over the last few years. Though the team played hard, the results were not showing up in the win/loss column. Last season, the Fishermen finished 4-5 and missed the postseason, but were two plays away from a 6-3 record. With an experienced defense and a hungry senior class, the Fishermen are set up to play good football. However, due to the inclusion of Banks, Taft and Woodburn, the road back to the postseason will be even harder.
Due to the 4A Special District 1 having seven teams, the top three teams from each Special District earn automatic qualifying bids. Per the Oregon School Activities Association rules, the top ranked fourth place team at year end earns a postseason bid.
Astoria’s road to the postseason might once again come down to the Clatsop Clash against Seaside. Last season’s class was a heavyweight bout that came down to the final play of regulation. Seaside’s walk off touchdown was ultimately the deciding factor for both teams. That victory moved the Seagulls into playoff contention and pushed Astoria out.
With Banks, Scappoose and Tillamook entering the season as the top three teams, both Astoria and Seaside will be forced to battle in the trenches. Throw in unknowns like Taft and 5A Woodburn playing down, the entire 4A schedule is more unpredictable.
Local volleyball teams led by standout hitters
The 2026 volleyball season will be highlighted by a pair of juniors.
Astoria junior and recent University of Washington-commit Kyah Gohr will look to put on a show for the local crowd at the Brickhouse. And Warrenton junior Natalie Davis will take center stage for a young Warrenton team. Both players have worked on their game during the offseason and recently took part in the Seaside Beach Volleyball Tournament.
The Fishermen enter 2026 as two-time defending Cowapa League champions and Warrenton is coming off a third-place finish behind Banks and Corbett.
Astoria soccer looks to bounce back
2025 was a tough year for Astoria soccer.
After qualifying for the playoffs in 2024, the boys team was only able to muster seven goals in 14 games en route to finishing 2-9-3 overall under first-year coach Angelo Schauermann. The girls didn’t fare much better as they only netted eight goals in their 15 games.
The injury bug was the culprit for much of the girls’ struggles as 2024 top scorer Roberta Chavez missed the entire season. She was joined by fellow junior Adisyn Hawkins on the sidelines and other key players spent significant time injured as well.
Both teams are led by strong senior classes and hope to put last year’s blip behind them.
Seaside soccer set to reload
While 2025 was a rough year for Astoria, the inverse was true for Seaside.
Both of Seaside’s teams, boys and girls, had dream seasons and qualified for the state playoffs. The Seaside boys won league with a 9-1 record, while the girls made state for the first time since 2007.
Though both teams had great seasons, they enter 2026 with a lot of work to do. The boys lost most of their team members from last season and will turn to a younger crop of players, while the Lady Gulls will be replacing at least five graduating starters.
The inclusion of Valley Catholic will add another quality team to the mix. Valley Catholic girls were the state runner up a year ago and the boys qualified for the 3A State Playoffs before losing to Creswell in the round of 16.
Seaside debuts new coaches
Seaside High School will bring two new coaches into the fold. Dennis Olstedt will lead the football team and Nicole Aydt is set to take over the Seagulls volleyball program.
Olstedt served as an assistant coach on Jeff Roberts staff a year ago and is now the head guy. He will lead the Seagulls through a difficult 4A schedule as they look to once again qualify for the state playoffs.
Aydt will take over a rebuilding Seagulls volleyball program that won only one game a year ago. The Seagulls young players worked hard over the last couple of years and the team is looking to take another step towards being competitive in a tough Cowapa League.
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