WWU's Smith coach of year

Rob Smith, who guided Western Washington to its fourth league title in five years, was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference football coach of the year. It is the seventh coach-of-the-year honor for Smith, who has a career record of 99-52-1 in 15 seasons. Ryan Andrews of Central Washington was voted the freshman of the year.

Central Washington placed 12 players on the first team all-star team, and Western Washington placed eight players.

Notes

• Both Washington's men's and women's cross country teams were among the 13 at-large qualifiers for the NCAA Championships Nov. 24 in Waterloo, Iowa, marking the first time since 1989, and just the third time in UW history, that the Huskies will send both squads to the national meet. Also, Washington State senior Anna Blue was selected as an at-large participant.

• Pacific Lutheran running back Aaron Binger and linebacker Casey Carlson were named Northwest Conference offensive and defensive football players of the year.

• Puget Sound junior Tyler Niemack was selected the Northwest Conference men's soccer offensive player of the year. Pacific Lutheran's John Yorke was selected coach of the year.

• Guard Ryan Diggs scored 18 of his game-high 23 points in the first half as Western Washington defeated Northwest College 104-68 in men's basketball. Aaron Sawyer scored 15 for Northwest (2-3).

• Junior Loni Ainslie scored a career-high 18 points as Central Washington defeated Western New Mexico 73-55 in its women's basketball season opener.

• Alicia Riddle scored 22 to help the Evergreen State (1-3) women to an 81-54 victory over Walla Walla College.

• Toronto Argonaut Orlando Steinauer, a Lynnwood High and Western Washington product, was selected as a Canadian Football League all-star at free safety.

NWC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

RB — Thomas Ford, Linfield (5-9, 185, Jr., Seattle, Wash.); Aaron Binger, PLU (5-11, 190, Sr., N. Bend, Wash.).

Slot — Greg Reed, Willamette (5-9, 180, Sr., Fairfield, Calif.).

QB — Tyler Matthews, Linfield (6-3, 195, Sr., Ellensburg, Wash.).

WR — George Carter, Linfield (6-3, 195, Jr., Salem, Ore.); Dwayne Tawney, Whitworth (5-10, 180, Sr., Spokane, Wash.).

TE — Marcus Ward, Linfield (6-4, 235, Sr., Salem, Ore.); Cody Lamens, Whitworth (6-3, 240, Sr., Ephrata, Wash.).

OL — Nate Oltmans, Willamette (6-3, 250, Boulder, Colo.); Billy Joe Murray, Willamette (6-0, 270, Sr., Las Vegas, Nev.); Morgan Smith, Willamette (6-6, 295, Sr., Kent, Wash.); Dwight Donaldson, Linfield (6-1, 255, So., Tacoma, Wash.); Kiki Sagoian, Linfield (6-1, 300, Jr., Kirkland, Wash.).

DEFENSE

DL — Nate Matlock, Willamette (6-5, 240, Jr., Boise, Idaho); Kelley Bertrand, Linfield (6-5, 255, Jr., Dundee, Ore.); Michael Greenberg, Linfield (6-2, 270, Fr., Vancouver, Wash.); John Bailey, PLU (6-2, 250, Sr., Kelso, Wash.); Matt Meyerson, Whitworth (6-0, 245, Sr., Fresno, Calif.).

LB — Logan Lorg, Willamette (6-0, 230, Jr., Reno, Nev.); Ken Halpin, Willamette (6-1, 210, Sr., Medford, Ore.); Harrison Bertsch, Linfield (6-1, 215, Sr., Rathdrum, Idaho); Ryan Boatsman, Linfield (6-2, 217, Sr., Kelso, Wash.); Casey Carlson, PLU (5-10, 200, Sr., Woodinville, Wash.); Mel Leary, Whitworth (6-2, 211, Sr., Haddon Heights, N.J.).

DB — Marcus Boards, Willamette (6-0, 186, Sr., Vista, Calif.); Ike Ellis, Linfield (5-11, 160, Sr., Powers, Ore.); Eric Hillison, Linfield (5-10, 185, Jr., Beaverton, Ore.).

SPECIALISTS

PK — Garrett Wales, Linfield (6-0, 190, So., Bend, Ore.).

P — James Wilson, Linfield (6-2, 190, Jr., Springfield, Ore.).

KR — Eric Hillison, Linfield (5-10, 185, Jr., Beaverton, Ore.).

PR — Josh Armstrong, Linfield (5-11, 170, Jr., Oregon City, Ore.); Brandon Hazenberg, Linfield (5-11, 185, So., Newberg, Ore.).

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

RB — Billy Condon, Whitworth (5-8, 170, Sr., Seattle, Wash.); TK Mathews, Willamette (5-9, 182, Sr., Covina, Calif.); Riley Jenkins, Linfield (6-0, 195, Jr., Salem, Ore.).

QB — Trent Thompson, Lewis & Clark (6-2, 195, Sr., Grants Pass, Ore.).

WR — Brett Meyer, Willamette (5-10, 178, Jr., Oregon City, Ore.); David Weller, PLU (6-0, 200, Sr., North Bend, Wash.); Brandon Hazenberg, Linfield (5-11, 185, So., Newberg, Ore.).

OL — Jason Hardin, Willamette (6-2, 260, Sr., Reno, Nev.); Ryan Griffey, UPS (6-3, 300, Sr., Allyn, Wash.); Kent Bailey, PLU (6-4, 275, Jr., Puyallup, Wash.); Drew Kehoe, Linfield (6-3, 255, Jr., West Linn, Ore.); Peter Gerber, Linfield (6-3, 270, Sr., Portland, Ore.); Mark Renne, PLU (6-5, 275, Jr., West Linn, Ore.).

DEFENSE

DL — Blake Cam, Willamette (6-2, 285, Jr., Eagle Point, Ore.); Brandon Tom, Linfield (6-2, 215, So., Kailua, Hawaii).

LB — Chris Stokes, Lewis & Clark (6-0, 225, Jr., Mt. Vernon, Wash.); Nate Enciso, UPS (5-11, 240, Sr., Newark, Calif.); Jonathan Hook, Whitworth (6-0, 201, Jr., Spokane, Wash.).

DB — Trebor Struble, Willamette (6-0, 202, Sr., Boise, Idaho); Jeremy Scroggins, Whitworth (5-11, 185, Jr., Royal City, Wash.).

HONORABLE MENTION

OFFENSE

RB — Nick Kaiel, Lewis & Clark (Fr., Portland, Ore.); Rory Lee, Puget Sound (Fr., Seabeck, Wash.); Ryan Simpson, PLU (Jr., Anacortes, Wash.); Calvin Keizer-Allen, Willamette (Jr., Santa Covina, Calif.).

QB — Andy Carlson, Puget Sound (So., Boulder, Colo.); Dusty MaCauley, PLU (Jr., Sisters, Ore.).

WR — Chris Jameson, Lewis & Clark (Fr., Wenatchee, Wash.); Casey Allen, Linfield (So., Newport, Ore.); Josh Armstrong, Linfield (Jr., Oregon City, Ore.).

TE — Byron Holloway, Willamette (Jr., San Luis Obispo, Calif.); Brian Deely, PLU (Sr., Boise, Idaho)

OL — Jarrod Murrieta, Lewis & Clark (Jr., Prescott Valley, Ariz.); Chad Dybdahl, Willamette (Jr., Dixon, Calif.); Nick Davalle, UPS (So., San Jose, Calif.); Scott Manning, PLU (Jr., Tacoma, Wash.); Chuck Evans-Clausen, Willamette (Sr., Hollister, Calif.).

DEFENSE

DL — Erik Gerwick, Lewis & Clark (Fr., Corvallis, Ore.); Austin Richard, Whitworth (So., Seattle, Wash.); Josh Vierra, Willamette (Sr., San Jose, Calif.); Jeremy Scott, Linfield (Sr., Dayton, Wyo.).

LB — Joe Boice, UPS (Jr., Vancouver, Wash.); Brodie Unger, Linfield (Sr., Dallas, Ore.).

DB — Marc Larson, UPS (Sr., Spokane, Wash.); Mark Gunderson, PLU (Jr., Sumner, Wash.); Kevin Emerson, Willamette (Sr., Salem, Ore.); Roderick Edwards, Willamette (Jr., Portland, Ore.); Chris Boock, Linfield (So., Salem, Ore.).

Offensive Players of the Year: Greg Reed, Willamette; Tyler Matthews, Linfield, Aaron Binger, PLU

Defensive Players of the Year: Nate Matlock, Willamette; Harrison Bertsch, Linfield; Casey Carlson, PLU

Coach of the Year: Jay Locey, Linfield

GNAC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

QB — Zak Hill, CWU (6-0, 190, Sr., Battle Ground, WA).

RB — Emilio Iniguez, CWU (5-9, 188, Jr., Puyallup, WA); Duncan Sherrard, WWU (5-10, 195, So., Seattle, WA).

WR — Brad Satran, WOU (6-3, 185, Sr., Tigard, OR); Jake Roberts, CWU (6-3, 195, Sr., Spokane, WA); Andy Olson, WWU (6-3, 210, So., Chehalis, WA); Chris White, HSU (5-11, 175, Sr., Fort Bragg, CA).

TE — Rick Carte, WWU (6-4, 240, Jr., Juneau, AK).

OL — Zach Fife, CWU (6-4, 325, Sr., Yakima, WA); John Lindsay, CWU (6-4, 278, Sr., Puyallup, WA); Jake Ositis, WOU (6-2, 270, Sr., Salem, OR); Jon Pagan, WWU (64, 260, Sr., Los Angeles, CA); Evan Picton, CWU (6-3, 291, So., Manson, WA).

K — Michael Koenen, WWU (5-11, 180, Jr., Ferndale, WA).

KR — Antar Brame, WOU (6-1, 215, Sr., Woodinville, WA); Jake Carlyle, WWU (5-7, 190, So., Olympia, WA).

DEFENSE

DL — Zach Weinberger, HSU (6-1, 280, Sr., Auburn, CA); Jacob Galloway, CWU (6-5, 235, Jr., Shelton, WA); Jeff Charleston, WOU (6-4, 245, Jr., Dallas, OR); Dustin Hawkins, CWU (6-2, 285, Jr., Spanaway, WA).

LB — Lann Olson, WWU (6-0, 215, Sr., Chehalis, WA); Levi Teasley, CWU (5-9, 210, Sr., Ellensburg, WA); Blake Walker, CWU (6-0, 225, Jr., Everett, WA); Tayt Tolman, WOU (6-1, 215, Sr., Albany, OR).

DB — Duval Seamster, HSU (5-11, 190, Sr., Miami, FLA); Rob White, WWU (6-1, 215, Sr., Woodinville, WA); Nick Omatsu, CWU (5-6, 150, Sr., Redmond, WA); Mohammed Muheize, HSU (5-10, 190, Sr., El Cajon, CA); Antar Brame, WOU (6-1, 215, Sr., Woodinville, WA).

P — Joe Smith, CWU (6-2, 183, Sr., Enumclaw, WA).

PR — Antar Brame, WOU (6-1, 215, Sr., Woodinville, WA).

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

QB — Chris Dixon, HSU (6-0, 202, Sr., Oakland, CA).

RB — Mike Ramirez, WOU (5-7, 205, Jr., Hermiston, OR); Ivan McCrae, WOU (5-10, 215, Sr., Salem, OR).

WR — Dustin Creager, HSU (6-1, 189, Jr., Ladera Ranch, CA); Brent Adkins, HSU (6-0, 185, Sr., Redmond, WA); Mike Hinshaw, WOU (5-11, 175, Sr., Scappoose, OR); Moses Lewis, CWU (6-3, 196, Sr., Yakima, WA).

TE — Kevin Boss, WOU (6-7, 245, Fr., Philomath, OR).

OL — Jason Root, HSU (6-3, 300, Jr., Antelope, CA); Matt Matthews, WOU (6-7, 350, Sr., Silverton, OR); Peter Bukea, WOU (6-4, 285, Jr., Tualatin, OR); Rhett Carpenter, CWU (6-3, 285, Sr., Kelso, WA).

DEFENSE

DL — Joey Joshua, WWU (6-4, 220, So., Ferndale, WA); Ron Kelly, WOU (6-3, 265, So., Astoria, OR); Nick Ball, WWU (6-1, 270, Sr., Olympia, WA); Lucas Garcia, WOU (6-3, 250, Jr., Bend, OR).

LB — Tim White, HSU (6-2, 240, Sr., Battle Mountain, NV); Brett Thompson, WWU (6-0, 230, Sr., Auburn, WA); Mitch Richards, CWU (5-9, 230, Sr., Stanwood, WA).

DB — Chad Boyd, WOU (6-0, 205, So., Salem, OR); Rocky Martinez, CWU (5-8, 170, Sr., Lynnwood, WA); Cody Killingsworth, HSU (6-1, 230, Sr., Ferndale, CA).

P — Michael Koenen, WWU (5-11, 180, Jr., Ferndale, WA); Lucas Taroli, WOU (6-4, 215, Sr., Bend, OR).

PR — Andy Olson, WWU (6-3, 210, So., Chehalis, WA).

Offensive player of the year — Brad Satran, Western Oregon

Defensive player of the year — Levi Teasley, Central Washington

Newcomer of the year — Duval Seamster, Humboldt State

Freshman of the year — Ryan Andrews, Central Washington

Coach of the year — Rob Smith, WWU

NWC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS

FIRST TEAM

Denise Kirstein (Whitman, Sr., OH, Spokane, Wash.); Andrea Beck (Linfield, Sr., OH, Canby, Ore.); Heather Johnson (PLU, Jr., M, Puyallup, Wash.); Jenni Linden (Willamette, Sr., M, Woodinville, Wash.); Jill Huber (Whitman, Sr., M, Enumclaw, Wash.); Lindsay Harksen (Linfield, So., RS, Sublimity, Ore.); Kristen Halleck (Willamette, Jr., OH, Salem, Ore.).

SECOND TEAM

Jenne Heu-Weller (PLU, Sr., S, Olympia, Wash.); Sarah Bliss (UPS, Jr., M, Eugene, Ore.); Kelly Sharpe (Linfield, Sr., M, Lopez Island, Wash.); Rachel Larson (Pacific, Sr., OH, Mesa, Ariz.); Nicole Bostic (George Fox, Sr., OH, Lake Stevens, Wash.); Stephanie Turner (PLU, So., OH, Snoqualmie, Wash.).

HONORABLE MENTION

Julie Locke (PLU, Jr., OH); Katy Schrader (Whitworth, Jr., M); Megan Apperson (UPS, Sr., S); Katie Leitheiser (Linfield, Sr., S); Kate Borsato (Whitman, Fr., S); April Lee (PLU, So., OH); Haley Stapleton (George Fox, So., DS).

Coach of the Year: Shane Kimura, Linfield

Player of the Year: Denise Kirstein, Whitman