ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Adam Bighill will wear jersey No. 44 his senior season at Central Washington University. The number is reserved for the Wildcat football player who is the “toughest, most disciplined and most tenacious” on the squad. He is the son of Andy Bighill of Montesano and his mother was the late Janine Peterson Bighill.

Bighill was an all-state fullback and linebacker at Montesano and also a state champion weight lifter in high school. He is a three-year letterman at CWU. Last season’s Wildcats were 12-1, losing for the only time in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals 21-20 to Northwest Missouri State.

Bighill, a 5-foot-10, 220-pound line-backer, played in nine games and had 78 tackles, including 36 solo tackles in the 2009 season. He sacked the quarterback three times for losses totaling 21 yards and had four hurries. He had one pass interception and two fumble recoveries. He has 218 tackles, fourth most in the past decade, 29 tackles for a loss and six interceptions for his career.