Pirates’ Anderson honored

Adam Anderson was named Offensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row, leading nine Whitworth players on the All-Northwest Conference team, announced Monday.

Anderson, a junior from Elk, shared the NWC Offensive Player of the Year award with slotback Merben Woo of NWC champion Willamette. He is joined on the first team by junior offensive tackle Jeff Kintner and junior defensive tackle Brandon Martin.

Anderson led the conference in rushing yards (139.9 yards per game), touchdowns (25), total points (152) and all-purpose yards (243.8 yards per game).

Martin is Whitworth’s only selection on the first team defense.

Second team members on offense from Whitworth included junior running back Milton Nelson, junior guard Michael Cozad and junior guard Michael Nahl.

On defense, second teamers include sophomore linebacker Layton Brown, sophomore tackle Gabe Shoemaker and senior safety Jesse Clark.

•Eastern Washington senior defensive tackle Lance Witherspoon was selected as the Big Sky Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Saturday’s 28-13 victory over Northern Arizona.

Witherspoon had a pair of sacks on the same NAU possession in the fourth quarter, as well as forcing and recovering the key fumble that helped give Eastern the lead for good in the third quarter.

• Boise State’s Byron Hout’s performance against Idaho on Saturday has earned him top defensive player honors in the Western Athletic Conference.

Hout, a freshman defensive end from Coeur d’Alene, was credited with five tackles, including two sacks, and a forced fumble in the Broncos’ 45-10 victory at Idaho.

Arena football

The Spokane Shock added wide receiver Damon Morton to the roster. Morton played at Colorado State University.

Women’s basketball

Gonzaga University forward Courtney Vandersloot is the West Coast Conference Player of the Week.

Vandersloot, a sophomore guard, led the Bulldogs to a 2-0 start with a career-high 27 points in the Zags’ 101-44 season-opening win over Eastern Oregon University and 20 points in a 64-59 win over Washington.

Soccer

Whitworth University men’s soccer coach Sean Bushey was selected as the Northwest Conference Coach of the Year for the fourth time and senior forward Caleb Barnhill led eight Pirate players as part of the 2008 All-NWC men’s soccer team.

Bushey, the winningest and longest-serving coach in Whitworth men’s soccer history, picked up the award after leading the Pirates to a second straight Northwest Conference title and a spot in the 2008 NCAA Division III tournament.

Barnhill was selected as the NWC Offensive Player of the Year, and joined senior forward John Prugh and defender Travis Jette on the first team.

Second team selections included junior defender Bryan Olson, freshman mid-fielder Cameron Bushey and freshman middle fielder Eddy Prugh.

Senior defender Ben Rotert and junior forward Elly Bulega were honorable mention selections.