Newberg's boys water polo team opened its 2026 season with a 4-1 record at its home tournament and will host Tigard in a Three Rivers League conference game on Monday, Sept. 28.

The Tigers beat four opponents by double digits at the Chehalem Parks and Recreation Aquatic Center over the Sept. 13-14 tournament, Your Oregon News reported.

Newberg topped Sheldon 15-4, Bend 16-3, Barlow 14-5 and Tualatin 15-3 before falling to Lakeridge 9-8 in overtime in the championship game.

Newberg coach Michael Rubottom, now in his sixth year leading the program, said the team started practices Aug. 17.

"These were the first games of the season for us, and they highlighted some areas of our game that we can work on and improve as a team," Rubottom told Newsberg.

Veterans Ethan Dan and Reed Kelly topped multiple statistical categories at the tournament. Dylan Clay also returns as a starter from a 2025 squad that went 27-6 overall, 8-2 in conference and finished third at the OSAA state tournament. The 18-player 2026 roster includes rising contributors Layton Salmon, Brayden Rhea, Titus Foster and Rylan Waters.

Rubottom named Lakeridge and 2025 state champion Lake Oswego as the teams to beat in the TRL and at the state level. Barlow, from the Mount Hood Conference, is also on his radar.

The Monday, Sept. 28, matchup at Newberg will be the first TRL conference game on the schedule. After that, Newberg hosts Barlow on Monday, Oct. 5, in a nonconference game and faces Lakeridge at home Wednesday, Oct. 7, in a key conference contest.

Closer to home, the Tigard Tualatin Aquatic District announced that Tigard Pool at 8680 SW Durham Road will close Friday evening, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19, for a high school water polo tournament. The hosting school for that event has not been identified.

Tigard's water polo roster, coaching staff and full 2026 schedule have not appeared on the school's athletics page. The Sept. 28 game at Newberg is the first TRL water polo date on the calendar for both programs.