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 once known as The Hilltoppers (a reference to the location of the East Hall on top of Prospect Hill) but changed their nickname in 1939 to the "Broncos" to avoid confusion with other schools such as the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. Former WMU Head Coach John Gill was the man who renamed the school athletics after approval was granted by the then Western State Teachers College's Athletic Board.
|
WESTERN MICHIGAN BRONCOS TICKETS
|
Sports
Baseball
Basketball (men's)
Basketball (women's)
Cross country
Football
Golf
Gymnastics
Women's Gymnastics team won a MAC championship and a MAC tournament championship in 2006
Ice hockey
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.
Soccer (men's)
The men's soccer team won the
MAC tournament championship in 2003. They are currently are coached by Chris Karwoski. 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
Borussia Mönchengladbach of the
1. Fußball-Bundesliga as well as the
Canadian National Team.
Soccer (women's)
Softball
Tennis (men's)
Tennis (women's)
Track and field
The Broncos sprint medley relay team is currently ranked #1 in the
NCAA [1].
Volleyball
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.
Championships
NCAA Division I National Championships
- Cross Country (Men's)
(2)
: 1964 • 1965
NCAA Division I National Runners-up
:
1955
- Cross Country (Men's)
(1)
: 1958
MAC championships
- Baseball
(14 championships)
- * Regular season (14):
1989 • 1967 • 1966 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1955 • 1952 • 1951 • 1950 • 1949
- * Tournament:
- Basketball (Men's)
(8)
- * Regular season (7):
2007–2008 (West Division) • 2004–2005 (West Division) • 2003–2004 (West Division) • 1997–1998 (West Division) • 1980–1981 • 1975–1976 • 1951–1952
- * 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:
- Golf (Men's)
(1)
- * MAC Championships:
1949
- Gymnastics
(4)
- * Regular season (3):
2006 • 1987 • 1986
- * Tournament (1):
2006
- Soccer (Men's)
(1)
- * Regular season:
- * Tournament (1):
2003
- Soccer (Women's)
(1)
- * Regular season:
- * 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:
- Tennis (Men's)
(23)
- * Regular season (20):
2008 • 2007 • 2004 • 2000 • 1999 • 1981 • 1965 • 1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1956 • 1955 • 1954 • 1952 • 1950
- * Tournament (3):
2008 • 2007 • 2006
- Tennis (Women's)
(12)
- * Regular season (11):
2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • 1997 • 1995 • 1990 • 1984
- * Tournament (1):
2007
- 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:
- Track and Field (Women's)
(2)
- * Regular season:
1987 • 1985
- * Tournament:
- Volleyball
(15)
- * Regular season (10):
2008 (West Division) • 2007 (West Division) • 2000 (West Division) • 1988 (West Division) • 1987 • 1986 • 1985 • 1984 • 1983 • 1982
- * Tournament (5):
2000 • 1989 • 1988 • 1987 • 1982
CCHA tournament championships
: 1985–1986
Non-varsity sports
Synchronized Skating
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 was cut along with Men's Cross Country and Track & Field.
Championships
United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSSA) Championships
- Snowboard Team Combined (Men's)
(1)
:2005
American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 2 Championships
:1996
National Intercollegiate Flying Association national championships
:1983
1998
2002
United States Synchronized Skating Championships
Western Michigan University Collegiate Team
2004
References
- Bronco Sprint Medley Team Ranked Nation’s Best by Track & Field News - WMUBroncos.com—Official Web Site of Western Michigan Athletics