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It was a year to remember for top teams throughout the Eugene-Springfield area.
On the boys side, a handful of teams captured state titles while many others went on deep postseason runs or finished near the top of the podium.
Now, it's time for you to decide which was the best of the best.
Vote for who you think should be The Register-Guard 2025-26 boys team of the year, sponsored by Active Chiropractic.
Nominees for the 2025-26 Register Guard Boys Team of the Year are:
Information about each team is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at registerguard.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Sunday, July 5.
Like something out of a Disney movie, Crow football won its Class 1A 6-man state semifinal game in storybook fashion, beating league rival Elkton on the final play of the game when Cayden Hernandez launched a walk-off 47-yard touchdown pass to Levi Betts. That play propelled the Cougars to their first state championship game since 1993. They fell to Harper in the championship game.
More: How Crow football made remarkable run to 6-man state title game
Despite finishing third in its own league, Churchill football caught fire during the postseason and rode star running back Lukas Babbitt all the way to the Class 5A semifinals. The No. 13-ranked Lancers, who finished the year 8-4, orchestrated upset wins over No. 4 Lebanon and No. 5 Thurston before falling to No. 1 Summit in the semis.
More: How Churchill Lancers football beat the odds to reach the 5A state semifinals
The fastest-rising football program in the state of Oregon produced arguably its best season in program history. Led by blue-chip University of Oregon signee Tony Cumberland, Willamette ran the table in the Southwest Conference and surged to the Class 6A quarterfinals before falling in a shootout with perennial powerhouse Central Catholic. It marked the Wolverines' first quarterfinal appearance since 2007.
More: Willamette football's ascent to powerhouse status sparks intrigue, backlash
It was a historic year for Thurston boys swimming, which captured the Class 5A state title to earn the first championship in program history. The Colts shattered 5A state meet records in the 200-meter freestyle relay and 200 medley relay.
More: Thurston wins first-ever OSAA swimming title, sets multiple 5A records
Led by a strong group of seniors and juniors, South Eugene swimming took second place at the Class 6A state championships. That marks the program's best finish since 2009. The Axe sealed their runner-up finish by placing second in the final event of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay.
Despite returning just one varsity player from its 2024-25 squad, Marist Catholic basketball played like a group of veterans when it mattered most. The No. 6 Spartans ran the gauntlet at the Class 4A state tournament and took home their first state title since 2008.
More: 'Selfless' Marist Catholic beats La Grande for 4A boys state title
This winter, Harrisburg senior Brody Buzzard became the 55th wrestler in state history to win four consecutive state titles. In the process, the Eagles' multi-sport star led his school to its second-ever team title as Harrisburg racked up 192 points, just five more than runner-up Nyssa.
More: Harrisburg's Brody Buzzard makes history, leads Eagles to title
After coming oh-so close in recent years, Thurston wrestling got its long-awaited state title. The Colts showed a flair for the dramatic in doing so; their 152-pound senior, Bill Matheus, produced a thrilling comeback win against a two-time defending champion in a bout that ultimately decided the team title.
More: 'Gas Tank Bill', Thurston boys win long-awaited wrestling state title
Creswell baseball delivered far and away its best season in program history in 2026. Led by all-state pitchers Jaxon Pelham and Landon Vaughn, the Bulldogs won the Mountain Valley Conference, went 24-6 and reached their first-ever Class 3A semifinal.
More: Team-first mentality sparks historic season for Creswell baseball
It was a year of redemption for Marist Catholic baseball. After losing the 2024 and 2025 Class 4A state championship games, the Spartans bounced back and in 2026 and won their first-ever state baseball title with a 4-3 win over Tillamook. They finished the year 25-4 and won their final 15 games.
More: Marist Catholic baseball collects long-awaited state championship
Lane County's sleeping baseball giant woke up in 2026 and claimed its first Midwestern League title in 11 years. Led by its Class 5A first-team all-state trio of Duncan Roudabush, Michael Buschelman and Aiden Hibler, North Eugene finished the year 21-6.
More: North Eugene baseball wins first Midwestern League title in 11 years
Not everything went according to plan for Thurston baseball, which opened the year as the No. 1 team in Class 5A before encountering some early season turbulence. But the Colts found their footing during the back half of the year and leaned on 5A co-state player of the year Grady Saunders during a thrilling run to the state title game. There, Thurston fell to state champion Central.
Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X @jarrid_denney
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Vote! Who is The Register-Guard high school boys Team of the Year?
Continue reading...
On the boys side, a handful of teams captured state titles while many others went on deep postseason runs or finished near the top of the podium.
Now, it's time for you to decide which was the best of the best.
Vote for who you think should be The Register-Guard 2025-26 boys team of the year, sponsored by Active Chiropractic.
You must be registered for see images attach
Nominees for the 2025-26 Register Guard Boys Team of the Year are:
- Crow football
- Churchill football
- Willamette football
- Thurston swimming
- South Eugene swimming
- Marist Catholic basketball
- Harrisburg wrestling
- Thurston wrestling
- Creswell baseball
- Marist Catholic baseball
- North Eugene baseball
- Thurston baseball
Information about each team is listed below. Vote for the athlete you think is most deserving at registerguard.com/sports. The poll closes at noon Sunday, July 5.
You must be registered for see images attach
Crow football
Like something out of a Disney movie, Crow football won its Class 1A 6-man state semifinal game in storybook fashion, beating league rival Elkton on the final play of the game when Cayden Hernandez launched a walk-off 47-yard touchdown pass to Levi Betts. That play propelled the Cougars to their first state championship game since 1993. They fell to Harper in the championship game.
More: How Crow football made remarkable run to 6-man state title game
You must be registered for see images
Churchill football
Despite finishing third in its own league, Churchill football caught fire during the postseason and rode star running back Lukas Babbitt all the way to the Class 5A semifinals. The No. 13-ranked Lancers, who finished the year 8-4, orchestrated upset wins over No. 4 Lebanon and No. 5 Thurston before falling to No. 1 Summit in the semis.
More: How Churchill Lancers football beat the odds to reach the 5A state semifinals
You must be registered for see images attach
Willamette football
The fastest-rising football program in the state of Oregon produced arguably its best season in program history. Led by blue-chip University of Oregon signee Tony Cumberland, Willamette ran the table in the Southwest Conference and surged to the Class 6A quarterfinals before falling in a shootout with perennial powerhouse Central Catholic. It marked the Wolverines' first quarterfinal appearance since 2007.
More: Willamette football's ascent to powerhouse status sparks intrigue, backlash
You must be registered for see images
Thurston swimming
It was a historic year for Thurston boys swimming, which captured the Class 5A state title to earn the first championship in program history. The Colts shattered 5A state meet records in the 200-meter freestyle relay and 200 medley relay.
More: Thurston wins first-ever OSAA swimming title, sets multiple 5A records
You must be registered for see images attach
South Eugene swimming
Led by a strong group of seniors and juniors, South Eugene swimming took second place at the Class 6A state championships. That marks the program's best finish since 2009. The Axe sealed their runner-up finish by placing second in the final event of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay.
You must be registered for see images attach
Marist Catholic basketball
Despite returning just one varsity player from its 2024-25 squad, Marist Catholic basketball played like a group of veterans when it mattered most. The No. 6 Spartans ran the gauntlet at the Class 4A state tournament and took home their first state title since 2008.
More: 'Selfless' Marist Catholic beats La Grande for 4A boys state title
You must be registered for see images
Harrisburg wrestling
This winter, Harrisburg senior Brody Buzzard became the 55th wrestler in state history to win four consecutive state titles. In the process, the Eagles' multi-sport star led his school to its second-ever team title as Harrisburg racked up 192 points, just five more than runner-up Nyssa.
More: Harrisburg's Brody Buzzard makes history, leads Eagles to title
You must be registered for see images attach
Thurston wrestling
After coming oh-so close in recent years, Thurston wrestling got its long-awaited state title. The Colts showed a flair for the dramatic in doing so; their 152-pound senior, Bill Matheus, produced a thrilling comeback win against a two-time defending champion in a bout that ultimately decided the team title.
More: 'Gas Tank Bill', Thurston boys win long-awaited wrestling state title
You must be registered for see images attach
Creswell baseball
Creswell baseball delivered far and away its best season in program history in 2026. Led by all-state pitchers Jaxon Pelham and Landon Vaughn, the Bulldogs won the Mountain Valley Conference, went 24-6 and reached their first-ever Class 3A semifinal.
More: Team-first mentality sparks historic season for Creswell baseball
You must be registered for see images attach
Marist Catholic baseball
It was a year of redemption for Marist Catholic baseball. After losing the 2024 and 2025 Class 4A state championship games, the Spartans bounced back and in 2026 and won their first-ever state baseball title with a 4-3 win over Tillamook. They finished the year 25-4 and won their final 15 games.
More: Marist Catholic baseball collects long-awaited state championship
You must be registered for see images attach
North Eugene baseball
Lane County's sleeping baseball giant woke up in 2026 and claimed its first Midwestern League title in 11 years. Led by its Class 5A first-team all-state trio of Duncan Roudabush, Michael Buschelman and Aiden Hibler, North Eugene finished the year 21-6.
More: North Eugene baseball wins first Midwestern League title in 11 years
You must be registered for see images attach
Thurston baseball
Not everything went according to plan for Thurston baseball, which opened the year as the No. 1 team in Class 5A before encountering some early season turbulence. But the Colts found their footing during the back half of the year and leaned on 5A co-state player of the year Grady Saunders during a thrilling run to the state title game. There, Thurston fell to state champion Central.
Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X @jarrid_denney
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Vote! Who is The Register-Guard high school boys Team of the Year?
Continue reading...
