Top area amateurs, teams honored

In the 66th year of voting by the Inland Northwest Sportswriters and Broadcasters, Eastern Washington's football national semifinalists swept three honors and ex-Lewis and Clark basketball star Briann January broke the glass ceiling.

Annually beginning in 1948, the area media has recognized the accomplishments locally and nationally of area athletes, teams and coaches.

January becomes the first female to be named Professional Athlete of the Year. The 2005 LC graduate last year was instrumental in the Indiana Fever's WNBA championship.

She averaged 10.3 points, but upped those numbers during the postseason and was particularly valuable on defense leading to the Fever's title.

The Amateur Male Athlete of the year is EWU's record-setting receiver Brandon Kaufman. He broke school, Big Sky and FCS records last year with 1,850 yards on 93 catches and scored 16 touchdowns. Named to numerous All-American teams and headed to the NFL scouting combine, Kaufman amassed 3,731 yards and 225 catches during a career that saw the Eagles win a national championship in 2010 and reach the FCS semifinals last fall.

Eastern is the SWABS Team of the Year as a result after sharing the Big Sky championship and compiling an 11-3 record while reaching the NCAA's tourney semifinals.

For the second time in three years, the Eagles' Beau Baldwin is the SWABS Coach of the Year.

The Amateur Female Athlete of the Year is Gonzaga University's Kayla Standish. The All-American nominee averaged 16.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks for the Bulldogs, who compiled a 28-6 record and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA women's basketball tournament.