Shelton Selected to First Team, Wales Given Sportsman Award
SPOKANE, Wash. - After playing against many of the top players in the NCAA Division III west region all season, Whitworth University's Michael Shelton has picked up his second consecutive All-Northwest Conference honor in men's tennis. In addition, Joe Wales has been chosen as the NWC Sportsman of the Year. Both awards are based on voting by NWC coaches. Shelton (Sr., Burbank, Wash. - CC of Spokane), who was selected to the All-NWC First Team for the second consecutive season, went 9-13 overall but 8-6 in the NWC while playing the #1 singles spot. He defeated 2009 NWC Player of the Year Joel Trudel of PLU during the 2010 conference tournament over the weekend. Wales (Jr., Salem, Ore. - Sprague) became the first Pirate to be named NWC Sportsman of the Year since Matt Lemberg in 2001. The award recognizes sportsmanship by the honoree throughout the conference season. Whitworth finished the season 9-16 overall, but 9-7 (fifth place) in the NWC. During the course of the year the Pirates defeated Pacific Lutheran in tennis for the first time since 1991 and nearly pulled off a second upset of the Lutes in the NWC tournament before falling 5-4. |
