Wildcats picked to repeat

The Central Washington University Wildcats are a unanimous choice to defend their Great Northwest Athletic Conference football title according to a preseason coaches poll released Tuesday by the conference office.

The Wildcats, who are ranked 14th nationally and return 15 starters, were the top pick of all four coaches. Western Oregon was second in voting, followed by Dixie State and Humboldt State.

East Valley High School graduate Andy Roof starts at left guard on offense for Central, while Riverside High grad Buddy Wood starts at strongside linebacker on defense.

•Former Washington State University defensive end Mkristo Bruce has signed a contract to play for the Florida Tuskers in the United Football League.

The UFL is a four-team league that will begin playing in October.

Rodeo

Cheney bareback rider Ryan Gray came up big last weekend to run his season earnings to $88,296 – good enough for fifth place in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association standings.

Gray earned $7,496 by winning the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo in San Juan Capistrano, Calif., and pocketed $1,715 by winning the Moses Lake Roundup.

Bull rider Zach Oakes of Elk, Wash., finished second at Moses Lake and earned $1,409. He moved up to 12th place in season earnings with $58,658.

Prep soccer

Adam Borsheim scored four goals – all in the first half – and the Coeur d’Alene Vikings breezed to an 8-0 victory over the visiting Lakeland Hawks in a matchup of two Inland Empire League boys soccer teams.

Vikings goalkeeper Rolan Yetter made three saves in his shutout effort.