SPOKANE, Wash. – Coming off a Northwest Conference championship season in 2025 that might have been a surprise to some, the Whitworth Pirates are well-positioned to repeat as league champions again in 2026.
As nearly 130 players check in for preseason camp on Wednesday, the Bucs return the bulk of their starters on offense and defense, along with all three kickers on special teams. Nearly the opposite from this point last season when only three starters returned on each side of the ball.
Despite the high turnover in starters, Whitworth rallied from a 1-2 start against non-conference opponents to win the NWC with a 7-0 record. The Pirates earned their third straight NCAA Division III playoff appearance and head coach Rod Sandberg was voted as the conference's Coach of the Year for the third time in his 11 seasons. He is 92-27 guiding Whitworth's football program.
The 2026 NWC preseason poll is not out yet, but the Bucs don't figure to sneak up on anyone this fall.
The offense returns starters at quarterback, two wide receivers and across the offensive line. Logan Lacio earned second team All-NWC in his first year as the starting QB after leading the league in completion percentage (69.4%). He threw for 2,471 yards with 19 touchdowns and five interceptions. Juniors Carter Steinwand and Jimmy Hughes will provide back up for the second straight year.
A veteran offensive line will protect Lacio, led by a pair of first team All-NWC honorees. Jaysen Akahi-Vida returns at left tackle, while Isaiah Sittauer is back at left guard. Evan Gaylord, who earned third team All-NWC as a freshman in 2025, is back as the right guard. Center Caleb Cabrera and right tackle Jacob Peck also return as starters. In addition, David Araiza, Abraham Castaneda, Connor Johnson and Drake Watko have significant playing experience as backups on the line.
Lacio has a pair of dangerous receivers to throw to. Tyson Hoke, a second team All-NWC selection last fall, returns as a starting wide receiver. He had 28 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. Deacon Dietz earned third team All-NWC last season at the other wideout. He led the Pirates in receptions (38), receiving yards (521) and touchdown catches (5).
While Whitworth lost starting tight end Taylor Wells to graduation, junior Nate Peterson gained third team All-NWC recognition as a backup thanks to 27 catches for 198 yards. He was the only tight end listed on the entire All-NWC team in 2025.
The biggest hole to fill on offense is at running back, where Luis Salgado graduated following a record-setting career. Seniors Kurt Solano and Nathan Owens have significant experience filling in out of the backfield over the last two seasons and will battle for the starting spot.
The Pirates return significant experience on the defensive side of the ball as well. The secondary is anchored by first team All-NWC cornerback Omari Williams, who led the NWC in total passes defended (11) last fall. The other cornerback position is open and up for grabs during camp.
Free safety Wyatt Hess had three interceptions to lead the Pirates in 2025, earning third team All-NWC. Hayden Throneberry became the starting strong safety midway through the season and is back to reclaim the spot this fall.
First team All-NWC selection Drew Cody returns as a starting inside linebacker. He led the NWC in total tackles (106), tackles per game (9.6) and solo tackles per game (5.4) in 2025. He also had 7.0 tackles for losses of 23 yards. Collin Campbell and Ronin Souza figure to battle for the other starting spot at ILB.
Iosepa Lyman earned third team All-NWC as Whitworth's outside linebacker, or Pirate, in 2025. In addition, Ryen Borchers matched Lyman in total playing time as the Pirate last fall and returns to provide playing time again.
Whitworth needs to replace two starters on the defensive line, first team selection Lane Watkins and third team honoree Nathan Hummel.
Spencer Dery started several games as a defensive end last season, while Mason Toomalatai gained significant playing experience as a first-year player. Veteran Mason Podoll will push for time, as will Lucas Reynolds who missed last fall with an injury after turning heads as a first-year in 2024. Henry Trost is a transfer from Montana Western who could also push for time.
Dylan McCain, Luke Jacobson and Tyree Pearson were all in the regular playing rotation and shared starting experience at defensive tackle last season. Ethan Williamson has transferred from Eastern Washington and will also push for his own role as a defensive tackle.
All three returning kickers earned All-NWC recognition last fall. Placekicker Iden Bone was a first team honoree after he finished the season as the league's leading scorer in overall points (82) and points per game (7.5). He made 16 of 19 field goal attempts and all 34 of his extra points.
Matthew Herzog made the second team as a punter. He finished second in the NWC with a 39.9 yards per punt average and had six kicks of over 50 yards. Whitworth led the conference in net punting (37.1 yards per kick).
Third team selection Jake Gaffaney led the conference in average kickoff distance (60.7 yards) and touchbacks (15).
Whitworth opens the 2026 schedule on September 5th with an exhibition game against the Utah Islanders, a club team comprised of college-aged players from the Salt Lake City area.
Non-conference games follow against Eastern Oregon (Sept. 12th at home) and Redlands (Sept. 19th in California), two teams the Pirates lost to in 2025.
Whitworth opens defense of its NWC title on October 3rd against Pacific (Ore.) at home. Linfield visits on October 17th during Homecoming/Hall of Fame weekend, followed a week later by Lewis & Clark. The Pirates will recognize the 24-member senior class in the home finale against Willamette on November 7th.
The Bucs will visit George Fox on October 10th, travel to Pacific Lutheran on October 31st and finish the regular season at Puget Sound on November 14th.
The NCAA Division III playoffs begin a week later.
