The Western Michigan Broncos are a NCAA Division I FBS team representing Western Michigan University. They compete in the Mid-American Conference in men's baseball, basketball, football, soccer and tennis; and women's basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. The men's hockey team competes in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
The facilities include Waldo Stadium (football), University Arena (men's and women's basketball, volleyball), Lawson Arena (hockey), Hyames Field (baseball), Ebert Field (softball), Sorensen Courts/West Hills Athletic Club (men's and women's tennis), and Kanley Track (women's track and field). The soccer teams compete at the WMU Soccer Complex located near the Parkview Campus.
The school's primary intrastate rival is Central Michigan University.
WMU athletic teams were once known as the Hilltoppers, a reference to the school's location on top of Prospect Hill, but changed their nickname in 1939 to the Broncos to avoid confusion with teams of other schools such as the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. John Gill, an assistant coach on the football team who later served as head coach, coined the new athletic nickname after approval for the name change was granted by the school's athletic board. In 2011, WMU commissioned artist Revere La Noue to create a 6,500-square-foot building wrap representing the Broncos for the 2011 ArtPrize competition. WMU president John Dunn has said that the work, "Epic Broncos", captures the "history and pride of being a Bronco".[1]
Sports [edit]
Baseball [edit]
The baseball team has represented WMU since its first season in 1911, compiling an overall record of 1,822–1349–23 (.574) through 2012.[2] They have appeared in the College World Series six times, most recently in 1963. In the 1955 College World Series, WMU finished as the NCAA runner-up, losing to Wake Forest 7–6 in the championship game. The Broncos had a 6–3 lead in the fifth inning of that game.[2]
WMU has won 14 Mid-American Conference championships, including 13 of 19 from 1949 to 1967.
The Broncos are currently coached by Billy Gernon in his second season as WMU manager. They most recently had a 26–29 (.473) record in 2012.
Basketball (men's) [edit]
Basketball (women's) [edit]
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Cross country [edit]
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Gymnastics [edit]
Women's Gymnastics team won a MAC championship and a MAC tournament championship in 2006
Ice hockey [edit]
Former professional hockey player Keith Jones played four years for the Broncos, from 1988-89 to 1991-92. He made the CCHA First All-Star Team his senior year.Western Michigan also has a div111 team the stalions
Soccer (men's) [edit]
The men's soccer team won the MAC tournament championship in 2003. They are currently are coached by Stu Riddle. A famous former player is Rob Friend, who transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara's Men's Soccer program. He currently plays in Germany for 1860 München, on loan from Eintracht Frankfurt, of the 2. Fußball-Bundesliga as well as the Canadian National Team.
Soccer (women's) [edit]
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Softball [edit]
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Tennis (men's) [edit]
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Tennis (women's) [edit]
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Track and field [edit]
The Broncos sprint medley relay team is currently ranked #1 in the NCAA.[3]
Volleyball [edit]
The volleyball team has been competing at Western Michigan University since 1965. In that span, the team has won 7 MAC regular season championships (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2000) and 4 MAC tournament championships (1987, 1988, 1989, 2000). WMU's all-time overall record is 705-482-9 (.593) and all-time conference record is 261-122 (.681).
The Broncos are coached by Colleen Munson. In her two years at WMU, she has compiled a 41-24 (.631) record.
Awards [edit]
For the 2010–11 season, WMU was awarded the Cartwright Award, given to one MAC program each season for excellence in academics, athletics and citizenship.[4] For the season, WMU won the Jacoby Trophy (most successful women's program) and finished second for the Reese Trophy (most successful men's program).[4]
Championships [edit]
NCAA Division I National Championships [edit]
- Cross Country (Men's) (2)
- 1964 • 1965
NCAA Division I National Runners-up [edit]
- 1955
- Cross Country (Men's) (1)
- 1958
MAC championships [edit]
- Baseball (14 championships)
- Regular season (14): 1989 • 1967 • 1966 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1955 • 1952 • 1951 • 1950 • 1949
- Tournament: None
- Basketball (Men's) (9)
- Regular season (8): 2008–09 (West Division) • 2007–08 (West Division) • 2004–05 (West Division) • 2003–04 (West Division) • 1997–98 (West Division) • 1980–81 • 1975–76 • 1951–52
- Tournament (1): 2004
- Basketball (Women's) (3)
- Regular season (1): 1999–2000 (West Division)
- Tournament (2): 2003 • 1985
- Cross Country (Men's) (14)
- MAC Championships: 1980 • 1979 • 1977 • 1976 • 1970 • 1968 • 1966 • 1963 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1948
- Cross Country (Women's) (4)
- MAC Championships: 1993 • 1986 • 1985 • 1984
- Football (4)
- Regular season: 2000 (West Division) • 1999 (West Division) • 1988 • 1966
- MAC Championship: None
- Golf (Men's) (1)
- Gymnastics (4)
- Regular season (3): 2006 • 1987 • 1986
- Tournament (1): 2006
- Soccer (Men's) (1)
- Regular season: None
- Tournament (1): 2003
- Soccer (Women's) (1)
- Regular season: None
- Tournament (1): 2003
- Softball (4)
- Regular season (3): 2006 • 1984 (Western Division) • 1983 (Western Division)
- Tournament (1): 2003
- Swimming and Diving (Men's) (2)
- Regular season: 1964 • 1963
- MAC Championships: None
- Tennis (Men's) (28)
- Regular season (21): 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2004 • 2000 • 1999 • 1981 • 1965 • 1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1956 • 1955 • 1954 • 1952 • 1950
- Tournament (7): 2010 • 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2004 • 2001
- Tennis (Women's) (15)
- Regular season (11): 2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • 1997 • 1995 • 1990 • 1984
- Tournament (4): 2007 • 2006 • 2000 • 1999
- Track and Field (Men's) (18)
- Regular season: 1996 • 1995 • 1985 • 1980 • 1976 • 1971 • 1970 • 1969 • 1968 • 1966 • 1965 • 1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958
- Tournament: None
- Track and Field (Women's) (2)
- Regular season: 1987 • 1985
- Tournament: None
- Volleyball (15)
- Regular season (11): 2009 (West Division) • 2008 (West Division) • 2007 (West Division) • 2000 (West Division) • 1988 • 1987 • 1986 • 1985 • 1984 • 1983 • 1982
- Tournament (4): 2000 • 1989 • 1988 • 1987
CCHA tournament championships [edit]
- 1986, 2012
Non-varsity sports [edit]
Synchronized Skating [edit]
Although the sport of synchronized skating is not yet an official NCAA sport Western Michigan is home to an internationally competitive synchronized skating team, who have medalled at competitions around the world. The Bronco's synchronized skating program consists of a senior team, which competes internationally as well as a collegiate level team which is competitive among the top university and collegiate teams from around the United States. The team lost their athletic funding and Varsity status along with Men's Cross Country and Track & Field in the 2003-2004 competitive season, and became a Club sport.
Championships [edit]
United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSSA) Championships [edit]
- Snowboard Team (Combined Men's and Women's) (1)
- 2005
American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 2 Championships [edit]
- 1996
National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) National Championships [edit]
- Sky Broncos Precision Flight Team (5)
- 1947
- 1948
- 1983
- 1998
- 2002
United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) National Championships [edit]
- Synchronized Skating- Collegiate division (1)
- 2004
References [edit]
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