The 2A Greater St. Helens League (GSHL) and the 2A Evergreen Conference (EvCo) are in the process of merging the two leagues as one for the 2026 and 2027 football seasons.
The news of the merger was first reported by the Tacoma News Tribune and confirmed by The Chronicle.
The 2A GSHL is made up of eight teams already: Washougal, Columbia River, Ridgefield, Mark Morris, Woodland, Hockinson, Hudson’s Bay and R.A. Long. In a nine-week schedule, the current 2A GSHL schedule leaves two openings for non-league play. However, after shakeups in the EvCo, their schedule openings for non-league have greatly expanded.
Centralia, an EvCo competitor finishing last season at 2-7, will reportedly not be part of the merger and has yet to determine its future for 2026, The Chronicle reported. The 1A Evergreen League could be a potential landing spot for the Centralia Tigers, as it has been for another recent 2A EvCo team. For a few seasons in the 2010s and into the 2020s, Rochester, a previous week 10 opponent of the Woodland Beavers, moved down to play football in the 1A league.
Shelton already plays the 3A GSHL teams, a newer foe for Prairie High School, which after these shakeups leaves four 2A programs in the Evergreen Conference: Tumwater, W.F. West, Black Hills and Aberdeen.
The merger creates a 2A league of 12 teams for the 2026 and 2027 football seasons.
W.F. West athletic director Tommy Elder confirmed on Wednesday, Jan. 21, that the merger is finalized. What remains on the table is a path to the postseason and how the league is shaped for the next two years. And how it looks for the potential future, with the new re-classification cycle due up for the 2028-29 year, The Chronicle reported.
Elder stated there will be a meeting next week to hash out the final parameters.
“We have agreed in principle, just have to work out the details,” Elder said.
Tumwater AD Jordan McGrath feels this is the best decision moving forward for the EvCo.
“Trying to find a solution that works for everybody,” McGrath stated.
In December, the EvCo petitioned to join the GSHL for football only and was rejected. McGrath and Elder confirmed that it was reversed by the District 4 Executive Board on Tuesday.
“That’s why our conversations came up early,” McGrath said. “We can’t wait until March to find those games, we need to know as soon as possible.”
W.F. West head coach Dan Hill told The Chronicle that finding non-league games was “not doable.” His initial thoughts on the merger were positive.
“Kind of sad our league is deteriorating, but combining with the GSHL, it is a great thing for both leagues,” he said. “I think we got something in the works to get it organized.”
There are travel hiccups for the GSHL teams, particularly those in Clark County. Washougal playing Aberdeen — the most extreme potential road trip for the two leagues — would be a 2.5 hour drive.
It was one of the reasons why the first petition last month was shut down. Nearly every school from the GSHL will need to travel a minimum of 40 minutes one-way to play an EvCo team. For example, for Ridgefield to play W.F. West, a distance of 68 miles separates the two schools for an estimated travel time of an hour and 10 minutes by car.
“We took two factors into consideration,” Elder said. “Travel and competitive balance. In all scenarios, those are factors we looked at to create a template. We’re pretty happy with the GSHL to get to this point.”
There are two viable options for how the league is divided: Three pods of four teams or two divisions of six teams.
However, as of Jan. 21, The Chronicle reported that there is no clear path to the postseason. In 2025, the EvCo had two teams automatically get into the Round of 32 and the GSHL had three. Aberdeen and Mark Morris faced off in a play-in game the Tuesday prior to reach the Round of 32.
That pigtail contest would be eliminated under the new league, The Chronicle reported.
“The goal is to get the best teams allocated into the Round of 32,” McGrath said.
Hill said all he cares about is stepping onto the field and letting things get decided between the white lines.
“To play each other consistently, it is a good deal for everybody,” Hill said. “It will be a lot of fun. You still have to compete.”
The potential of two leagues – which, in every other sport, play each other to determine state bids – is something even Elder admits is fascinating.
“I think it is great,” he said. “It is a real credit to the GSHL to be open to that conversation and willing to work with us.”
