Football | 1/28/2008 10:44:16 AM

Western Oregon senior quarterback Mark Thorson capped an eventful season by being honored as a finalist for the Ad Rutschman Small College Athlete of the Year Award on Sunday night at the 56th annual Oregon Sports Awards.

Thorson, who set four WOU career passing records and a single-season mark this year, was one of five players selected and was the only football player in his category. The award was given to Scott O'Gallagher, a basketball player from Warner Pacific.

The ESPY-style show was held in the Tiger Woods building on the campus of Nike in front of a sold-out crowd of 750. It was also broadcast live on 1080 AM The Fan and on Comcast television in the Portland area.

Here's a list of the finalists and award winners in each category.

Oregon Sports Awards winners and finalists

Bill Hayward amateur athlete of the year (men)

Winner: Dennis Dixon, University of Oregon football

Finalists: Darwin Barney, Oregon State University baseball; Aaron Brooks, University of Oregon basketball; Mitch Canham, Oregon State University baseball; Galen Rupp, University of Oregon cross country, track and field

Recent winners: Jonah Nickerson (2006), Mike Hass (2005), Luke Jackson (2004), Luke Ridnour and Steven Jackson (2003), Fred Jones (2002), Joey Harrington (2001)

Bill Hayward amateur athlete of the year (women)

Winner: Stephanie Cox, University of Portland soccer

Finalists: Michelle Enyeart, University of Portland soccer; Brianne McGowan, Oregon State University softball; Jenn Salling, University of Oregon softball; Rebecca Ward, fencing

Recent winners: Brianne McGowan (2006), Christine Sinclair (2005), Mariel Zagunis (2004), Becky Holliday (2003), Christine Sinclair (2002), Felicia Ragland (2001)

Harry Glickman professional athlete of the year (men)

Winner: Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers

Finalists: Derek Anderson, Cleveland Browns; Randy Couture, Ultimate Fighting Championship; Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox; T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Cincinnati Bengals

Recent winners: Steven Jackson (2006), Ben Crane (2005), Peter Jacobsen (2004), Tom Pappas (2003), Bob Gilder (2002), Scott Brosius (2001)

Harry Glickman professional athlete of the year (women)

Winner: Kara Goucher, track and field

Finalists: Kara Braxton, Detroit Shock; Maria Mutola, track and field; Shannon O'Keefe, bowling; Christine Sinclair, Canadian national soccer team

Recent winners: Christine Sinclair (2005); Inge de Bruijn (2004); Maria Mutola (2003), Marla Runyan (2002); Tiffeny Milbrett (2001)

Slats Gill sportsperson of the year

Winner: Pat Casey, Oregon State University baseball

Finalists: Ernie Kent, University of Oregon men's basketball; Vin Lananna, University of Oregon cross country, track and field; Kevin Pritchard, Portland Trail Blazers; Mike Riley, Oregon State University football

Recent winners: Pat Casey (2006), Pat Casey (2005), Danny Miles (2004), Ernie Kent (2003), Clive Charles (2002), Mike Bellotti (2001)

Johnny Carpenter prep athlete of the year (men)

Winner: Kevin Love, Lake Oswego basketball

Finalists: Jordan Bishop, West Salem football, basketball, track and field; Andre Broadous, Grant football, basketball, baseball; Elliott Jantzer, Phoenix cross country, track and field; Joey Mahalic, Wilson baseball; Cory McCaffrey, Sisters football, track and field; Paul McCoy, Grant football, basketball, track and field; Jordan Polk, Lincoln football, basketball, track and field; Kyle Singler, South Medford basketball; Zach Young, Lake Oswego football, track and field

Recent winners: Kevin Love (2006), Kevin Love and Joey Wong (2005), Galen Rupp (2004), Tommy Skipper (2003), Jordan Kent (2002), Jordan Kent (2001)

Johnny Carpenter prep athlete of the year (women)

Winner: Taylor Wallace, Henley cross country, track and field, basketball

Finalists: Sam Child, Tualatin basketball; Mikayla Endicott, Roseburg softball; Paige Hall, Jesuit softball; Michelle Jenkins, Southridge basketball; Anna Marchbanks, McKay volleyball, basketball, track and field; Bianca Mathabane, Lincoln track and field; Kelcy McKenna, North Bend tennis; Kellie Schueler, Summit track and field; Megan Walsh, Central Catholic softball

Recent winners: Rebecca Kim (2006), Sara Callier (2005), Jillian Harmon (2004), Brianna Anderson-Gregg (2003), Deborah Jones (2002), Maranda Brownson (2001)

Nike-Steve Prefontaine Award

Winner: Adrienne McGuirk, Jesuit

Finalists: Bryce Burgess, Franklin; Michelle Dettmann, Centennial; Brian Manning, Jesuit; Taylor Morgan, Central Catholic

Recent winners: Casey Masterson (2006), Kenny Klotz (2005), Scott Sanders, (2004), Galen Rupp (2003), Lauren Jespersen (2002), Jeane Goff (2001)

Ad Rutschman small-college athlete of the year (men)

Winner: Scott O'Gallagher, Warner Pacific basketball

Finalists: Mark Carollo, Eastern Oregon University basketball; Levell Hesia, Oregon Institute of Technology basketball; Joel Krebs, George Fox track and field; Mark Thorson, Western Oregon University football

Recent winners: Nick Symmonds (2006), Brett Elliott and Nick Symmonds (2005), Brett Elliott (2004), Tyler Matthews (2003), David Russell (2002), Nik Lubisich (2001)

Ad Rutschman small-college athlete of the year (women)

Winner: Kelsi Haylett, Oregon Institute of Technology basketball, softball, track and field

Finalists: Jessie Gallaher, Concordia University track and field; Annie Hess, Concordia University track and field; Jenny Marshall, Linfield College softball; Sarah Zerzan, Willamette University cross country, track and field

Recent winners: Sarah Zerzan (2006), DeeDee Arnall (2005), Caitie Davidson (2004), Shelly Butcher (2003), Meagan Webber (2002), Becky Holliday (2001)

Lou Burge Special Olympics athlete of the year

Winner: Amelia Abel, Eugene

Recent winners: Darrick Yarbrough (2006), Jennifer Hill (2005), Rebecca Taylor (2004), Jennifer Duras (2003), Debra McDougald (2002), John Paul Monroe (2001)

Les Schwab Friend of Sports

Winner: Henry and Carl Cadonau Sr., Alpenrose Dairy

Recent winners: Harvey Platt and Platt Electric Supply (2006), Norm Daniels and Joe's (2005), Terry Newsom and Pacific Office Automation (2004), U.S. Bank (2003), Les Schwab Tire Centers (2002)

George Pasero team of the year

Winners: Linfield College softball, Oregon State University baseball, University of Oregon men's cross country

Finalists: Lake Oswego Little League baseball; University of Oregon men's basketball

Recent winners: Oregon State University baseball (2006), Oregon State University baseball and University of Portland women's soccer (2005), Aloha Knights baseball, George Fox University baseball, Linfield College football, Oregon Institute of Technology men's basketball (2004); Linfield College football (2003); University of Portland women's soccer, University of Oregon men's basketball (2002); University of Oregon football (2001)

Merit awards

Winners: Chris Dudley and Brian Henninger

Recent winners: Bill Schonely and Penny Knight (2006), Teri Mariani, Mike Rich and Les Smith (2005), Joe Etzel, Johnny Pesky and Tournament Golf Foundation Inc. (2004), Jack and Mary Cain and John Simmons (2003), Charlotte Brandon, Anthony Newman and J.J. Birden (2002), Jim Joyce and Dale Scott (2001)