Sports in brief: CWU’s Wood selected All-American
College football: Central Washington University senior Buddy Wood (Riverside HS) has been named a first-team NCAA Division II All-American on Tuesday by both the American Football Coaches Association and by the Daktronics Sports Information Directors team.
Wood, a linebacker and team captain for the Wildcats, finished his senior season at CWU as the team leader in tackles with 111. He had 19 tackles in his final collegiate contest, a national quarterfinal loss to Northwest Missouri State on Nov. 28, which enabled him to also finish his career as the all-time leading tackler in school history.
In addition to his tackle totals, Wood was tops on the Wildcats with 17 tackles for loss in 2009. He had five fumble recoveries, five forced fumbles and three blocked kicks as a senior. He finished his career with school and conference records for fumble recoveries, forced fumbles and fumble recovery touchdowns. Wood was previously named the 2009 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Bouldin earns WCC kudos
College basketball: Gonzaga University senior guard Matt Bouldin is the West Coast Conference men’s basketball Co-Player of the Week along with Omar Samhan of Saint Mary’s University.
Bouldin scored a career-high 28 points against Washington State in a 74-69 victory for the Bulldogs, going 7 for 12 from 3-point range. He scored 22 points, going 6 for 12 from the field, in a 77-75 loss to Wake Forest.
Coach confident Locker will stay
College football: Washington coach Steve Sarkisian said he’s “very optimistic” that star quarterback Jake Locker will return to the Huskies for his senior season rather than enter the NFL draft.
Sarkisian made the remark Tuesday, one day after he met with Locker to discuss his draft prospects. Asked why he was optimistic, Sarkisian said only, “That’s just the way I am.”
The coach said Locker has submitted a request to the NFL for evaluation of his draft status, but that such a move is customary.
The deadline for players to enter the draft is Jan. 15.
Associated Press