Western Michigan Broncos

Infobox college athletics
name = Western Michigan Broncos

logo_width = 200
university = Western Michigan University
conference = Mid-American Conference
Central Collegiate Hockey Association
division = Division I
director = Kathy Beauregard
city = Kalamazoo
state = Michigan
stateabb = MI
teams = 15
stadium = Waldo Stadium
baseballfield = Hyames Field
arena = University Arena
arena2 = Lawson Arena
mascot = Buster Bronco
nickname = Broncos
color1 = Brown
color2 = Gold
hex1 = 6a3e0f
hex2 = e3bc85
pageurl = http://www.wmubroncos.com
pagename = WMUBroncos.com

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.

ports

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

Hockey

occer (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.

occer (women's)

oftball

Tennis (men's)

Tennis (women's)

Track and field

The Broncos sprint medley relay team is currently ranked #1 in the NCAA [ [http://www.wmubroncos.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=4600&ATCLID=1243444 Bronco Sprint Medley Team Ranked Nation’s Best by Track & Field News - WMUBroncos.com—Official Web Site of Western Michigan Athletics ] ] .

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.

Roster

Championships

NCAA Division I National Championships

*Cross Country (Men's) (2): 1964 • 1965

NCAA Division I National Runners-up

*Baseball (1): 1955
*Cross Country (Men's) (1): 1958

MAC regular season championships

* Baseball (14 championships):1989 • 1967 • 1966 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1955 • 1952 • 1951 • 1950 • 1949
* Basketball (Men's) (7):2007-08 (West Division) • 2004-05 (West Division) • 2003-04 (West Division) • 1997-98 (West Division) • 1980-81 • 1975-76 • 1951-52
* Basketball (Women's) (1):1999-2000 (West Division)
* Cross Country (Men's) (14):1980 • 1979 • 1977 • 1976 • 1970 • 1968 • 1966 • 1963 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1948
* Cross Country (Women's) (4):1993 • 1986 • 1985 • 1984
* Football (4): 2000 (West Division) • 1999 (West Division) • 1988 • 1966
* Golf (Men's) (1):1949
* Gymnastics (3):2006 • 1987 • 1986
* Soccer (Men's) (1):2003
* Soccer (Women's) (1):2003
* Softball (1):2006
* Swimming and Diving (Men's) (2):1964 • 1963
* Tennis (Men's) (20):2008 • 2007 • 2004 • 2000 • 1999 • 1981 • 1965 • 1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1956 • 1955 • 1954 • 1952 • 1950
* Tennis (Women's) (11):2008 • 2007 • 2006 • 2005 • 2001 • 2000 • 1999 • 1997 • 1995 • 1990 • 1984
* Track and Field (Men's) (18):1996 • 1995 • 1985 • 1980 • 1976 • 1971 • 1970 • 1969 • 1968 • 1966 • 1965 • 1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958
* Track and Field (Women's) (2):1987 • 1985
* Volleyball (9):2007 (West Division) • 2000 • 1988 • 1987 • 1986 • 1985 • 1984 • 1983 • 1982

CCHA championships

* Ice Hockey (Men's) (2 Tournament Champions):1975-1976 • 1985-1986

Non-varsity sports

ynchronized 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

* Ice Hockey (Men's) (1) :1996

National Intercollegiate Flying Association national championships

*Sky Broncos:1983:1998:2002

References