Central High School competing in the 5A Game Day division.

The day that every competitive cheer team has been working for is nearing, and new champions will be soon be crowned. The 2026 OSAA State Cheerleading Championships will take place, Feb. 13-14, at Oregon City High School. Over 100 teams from across the state vying for one of ten State Champion trophies. 

The competition begins on Friday with the Game Day divisions. There were only two divisions since its inception in 2023 (4A/3A/2A/1A and 6A/5A), but this year the number of championship trophies has doubled. Divisions include 3A/2A/1A, 4A, 5A, and 6A. Since emerging as a new state category in 2023, Game Day continues to grow in popularity creating the need for additional divisions.

Scio and Westside Christian have always placed in the top spots in the 4A/3A/2A/1A Game Day division, but teams such as Creswell and Rogue River are hoping to give them a challenge and take the new 3A/2A/1A title home. The only team to win this division in the past has been Scio in 2023. 

In the 4A Game Day division, Baker comes in as the reigning 2-time champion, but Molalla and North Marion are working hard to dethrone the reigning champs. Molalla, Phoenix and Ontario have taken home a Game Day trophy in the past, and they are all hoping to improve on this year’s placement.

Central and Thurston continue to be the favorites in the 5A Game Day division. These two teams push each other to continue working hard and improving each year. However, Wilsonville, Centennial, Woodburn and Crater are improving every week to challenge for a top spot.

The 2024 champions, West Salem, are back in the 6A Game Day division. However, teams such as David Douglas, Forest Grove, Lake Oswego and Clackamas have plans to take that coveted blue trophy home.

Traditional teams begin competing on Saturday with the 3A/2A/1A and 6A Small divisions. Santiam Christian is back to defend their 3A/2A/1A title. However, Yamhill-Carlton and Pleasant Hill have been close behind the Eagles throughout the season. Newberg is back to add a 13th state title to their resume, but Aloha, Westview and Sherwood have no intention of making that quest an easy one. Clean routines will be key in these divisions.

Next up in traditional are the 4A Small, 5A Small, and 6A Large divisions. Newport is back for a third straight title in 4A, but Sweet Home has edged them out all season. Only time will tell if the reigning champs will hold onto that title. Crescent Valley is also vying for a third straight title, but in what could be argued the deepest division, Lebanon, Summit, Ridgeview, Caldera, South Albany and Mountain View are working hard to take home that first place trophy. Last year’s champion in 6A Large is not longer competing in that division, so the title is up for grabs. West Linn, Mountainside and Lakeridge have shown that the winner of this division will have to go through one of them.

And finally, the Coed divisions will finish the day. Gladstone returns to defend their title in the 4A/3A/2A/1A Coed division. However, Marshfield and Junction City continue to work hard and will be pushing for an upset. Tualatin is also back to defend their 6A/5A Coed title. They are working hard to keep South Medford, West Albany, and Oregon City from taking the first place trophy.

The competition begins at 4:30pm on Friday and 9:00am on Saturday. Anyone attending will undoubtedly see the hard work these athletes have put in all season. At the end of each day, only a few teams will walk away with the coveted blue trophy, but all of the teams should walk away feeling pride in the hard work they put in to make it to the State Championship mat.