Two Magic Valley high school programs set to drop classifications next school year are getting a preview of their future competition this summer — on the American Legion baseball diamond.
Canyon Ridge High School in Twin Falls and Buhl High School are both moving to 3A classification for the 2026-27 school year, and this summer’s Legion A schedule has given players from both programs a glimpse of the opponents they will soon face on a regular basis. Canyon Ridge is stepping down from 5A, while Buhl is moving from 4A — both landing in the same 3A district alongside programs like Wendell and Declo.
Red Hawks Shine Against Wood River
On Monday, June 15, the Twin Falls Red Hawks squared off against the Wood River Wranglers in game one of a two-game American Legion A series at Canyon Ridge High School. It was a productive night at the plate for the home side. Dawson Wheeler and Troy Worden each collected three hits and drove in five runs apiece in the opener, providing the offensive firepower that fueled the Twin Falls win.
Luke Walton picked up the offensive slack in game two, delivering six RBIs to help the Red Hawks close out the series. Wheeler, who will be a senior for Canyon Ridge when the Riverhawks officially join the 3A ranks in 2026-27, is among the players getting competitive at-bats this summer that could pay dividends once the reclassification takes effect.
The transition carries real meaning for players like Wheeler. During the regular school year, Canyon Ridge and Buhl competed as one-off non-conference opponents, which never quite generated the intensity of a true rivalry matchup. Once both schools settle into 3A, those games will count in the standings — and carry the weight that goes with in-district competition.
Buhl Rolls Past Wendell in Blowout
On Tuesday, June 16, Buhl traveled to Wendell to face the Hub City Hitmen in a Legion A contest — a matchup that previewed what could become a regular district rivalry starting next fall. Buhl made a strong first impression, rolling to a 22-2 victory.
Kannon Gambrel and Zayne Meck each recorded three hits to pace Buhl’s offense in the win. The Indians improved to 5-3 in Legion A play with the result.
Wendell is one of the programs Buhl will join in District 4 when 3A realignment takes effect. Declo is also expected to be part of that district grouping. While American Legion baseball divisions are not structured around school classifications — meaning these summer contests are independent of the IHSAA framework — the scheduling has still created natural pairings that mirror what the 2026-27 school year calendar will look like.
What the Reclassification Means for Magic Valley Programs
The upcoming classification shifts represent a significant change for both programs. Canyon Ridge, as a 5A school, has competed against some of the largest programs in Idaho. Dropping two classifications to 3A means a notably different competitive landscape — smaller schools, tighter communities, and a brand-new set of rivals built around District 4 geography.
For Buhl, the move from 4A to 3A is a one-step adjustment, but the end result is similar: the Indians will be building rivalries with neighboring programs in a classification that better fits the school’s enrollment. Joining Wendell and Declo in District 4 creates natural geographic competition across south-central Idaho.
This summer’s Legion play has offered players from both schools the rare chance to test themselves against upcoming conference foes before the regular season even begins — an informal but meaningful introduction to the competition ahead. Whether those early impressions carry over into the school year remains to be seen, but the foundation for new rivalries is already being laid one at-bat at a time. For more on how Idaho school funding and classification structures are evolving, see the ongoing public review of Idaho’s school funding formula.
What Comes Next
Both Canyon Ridge and Buhl will continue Legion A play through the summer before the 2026-27 school year officially begins. The reclassification takes effect at the start of that academic year, and both programs will enter 3A competition in earnest when fall and winter sports seasons get underway. Baseball fans in Magic Valley will want to keep an eye on how these rivalries develop once the IHSAA calendar flips — the summer preview has already shown there is plenty of talent on both rosters heading into the transition.