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Western Michigan Broncos

(Redirected from Western Michigan Hilltoppers)

The Western Michigan Broncos are a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I program representing Western Michigan University (WMU) in college athletics. They compete in the Mid-American Conference in men's baseball, basketball, football (within the Football Bowl Subdivision), and tennis; and women's basketball, cross-country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, softball, track and field, and volleyball. The men's ice hockey team competes in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference and the men's soccer team competes in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Broncos also have a flight team, the SkyBroncos, who have won the National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) National Championship award five times.

Western Michigan Broncos
Logo
UniversityWestern Michigan University
ConferenceMAC (primary)
NCHC (men's hockey)
MVC (men's soccer)
NCAADivision I (FBS)
Athletic directorDan Bartholomae
LocationKalamazoo, Michigan
Varsity teams16
Football stadiumWaldo Stadium
Basketball arenaUniversity Arena
Ice hockey arenaLawson Arena
Baseball stadiumHyames Field
Softball stadiumEbert Field
Soccer stadiumWMU Soccer Complex
MascotBuster Bronco
NicknameBroncos
ColorsBrown and gold[1]
   
Websitewww.wmubroncos.com
Western Michigan is a member of the Mid-American Conference

The Broncos have won two NCAA national championships. The men's cross country team won the NCAA title in 1964 and 1965. WMU finished as national runners up in 1955 for baseball and 1958 for men's cross country.

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 rival is Central Michigan University.

History

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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.[2] 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".[3]

Varsity sports

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A member of the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, Western Michigan sponsors teams in 6 men's and 9 women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[4]

Men's sports Women's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Football Golf
Ice hockey[v 1] Gymnastics
Soccer Soccer
Tennis Softball
Tennis
Track & field†
Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor.
Notes
  1. ^ The hockey team competes as a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

Baseball

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Main article: Western Michigan Broncos baseball
 
Broncos baseball coach Billy Gernon conducts a pitching change during a 2014 game

The baseball team has represented WMU since its first season in 1911, compiling an overall record of 1,822–1349–23 (.574) through 2012.[5] 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.[5]

WMU has won 15 Mid-American Conference championships, including 13 of 19 from 1949 to 1967 and most recently, the conference tournament in 2016.

The Broncos are coached by Billy Gernon.

Basketball

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Main articles: Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball and Western Michigan Broncos women's basketball

Football

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Main article: Western Michigan Broncos football

Hockey

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Main article: Western Michigan Broncos men's ice hockey

Soccer (men's)

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Main article: Western Michigan Broncos men's soccer

The men's soccer team won the MAC tournament championship in 2003 and 2022. They are coached by Chad Wiseman. A famous former player is Rob Friend, who transferred to the University of California, Santa Barbara's Men's Soccer program. He plays in Major League Soccer (MLS) for the LA Galaxy, as well as the Canadian National Team.

The Broncos moved men's soccer to the Missouri Valley Conference in 2023, following the MAC discontinuing sponsorship of men's soccer after the 2022 season.

Soccer (women's)

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On November 9, 2013, Western Michigan women's soccer team won the Mid-American Conference tournament championship and a trip to the NCAA tournament. The MAC Championship is the second for the program, coming 10 years from the first one in 2003.

Softball

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The Bronco softball team has appeared in three Women's College World Series, in 1980, 1981 and 1982 (NCAA).[6]

Volleyball

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The volleyball team has been competing at Western Michigan University since 1965. In that span, the team has won 10 MAC regular season championships (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 2000, 2008 and 2023) and 7 MAC tournament championships (1982, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2000, 2014 and 2023). Through the 2022 season, WMU's all-time overall record is 1064–778–9 (.577) and conference record is 426–222 (.657).

The Broncos are coached by Colleen Munson. In her eighteen years at WMU, she has compiled a 349–220 (.613) record.

WMU won the MAC regular season championship the first eight seasons it was in existence without losing a match, compiling an 86–0 record.

In 2013, the Broncos went undefeated in the league (18–0) and went on to win the tournament championship. They defeated No.7 seeded Auburn in the first round of the 2023 NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament and will take on No. 2 Louisville.

NCAA tournament results

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Season Round Seed Opponent Result Notes
1982 First round (28 teams) – at No. 12 BYU L 3–0 (15–10, 15–7, 15–7)
1983 First round (28 teams) – vs. No. 7 Nebraska W 3–1 (9–15, 15–12, 15–12, 15–8)
1983 Regional semifinal (16 teams) – at No. 10 Purdue W 3–2 (15–3, 9–15, 15–9, 14–16, 15–10)
1983 Regional final (8 teams) – at No. 3 UCLA L 3–0 (15–6, 15–8, 15–12)
1984 First round (28 teams) – at No. 12 Illinois State W 3–1 (15–13, 9–15, 15–8, 17–15)
1984 Regional semifinal (16 teams) – at No. 7 Nebraska L 1–3 (12–15, 10–15, 15–8, 7–15)
1985 First round (28 teams) – at No. 10 Illinois L, 1–3 (9–15, 11–15, 15–12, 12–15)
1986 First round (32 teams) – at No. 19 Colorado State W, 3–0 (16–14, 15–2, 15–12)
1986 Regional semifinal (16 teams) – at No. 12 Illinois L, 0–3 (5–15, 10–15, 4–15)
1987 First round (32 teams) – at Oklahoma W, 3–0 (15–3, 15–8, 15–9)
1987 Regional semifinal (16 teams) – at No. 7 Illinois L, 2–3 (11–15, 15–9, 7–15, 15–12, 10–15)
1988 First round (32 teams) – at No. 7 Texas L, 0–3 (10–15, 14–16, 3–15)
2000 First round (64 teams) – vs. Northern Iowa L, 1–3 (14–16, 15–8, 7–15, 8–15)
2008 First round (64 teams) – at Dayton W, 3–1 (21–25, 26–24, 25–23, 25–18)
2008 Second round (32 teams) – vs. No. 16 Tulane W, 3–2 (20–25, 25–21, 13–25, 25–19, 15–12)
2008 Regional semifinals (16 teams) – at No. 1 Penn State L, 0–3 (17–25, 12–25, 19–25)
2011 First round (64 teams) – vs. No. 11 Washington L, 1–3 (13–25, 25–20, 22–25, 25–16)
2014 First round (64 teams) – vs. No. 4 Wisconsin L, 0–3 (9–24, 24–26, 10–25)
2023 First round (64 teams) – vs. No. 7 Auburn W 3–0 (25–18, 25–17, 25–19)
2023 Second round (32 teams) – at No. 2 Louisville L 3–0 (26–24, 25–18, 25–22)

Other varsity sports

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The men's cross country team won the NCAA Division I championship in 1964 and 1965,[7] and finished as national runners up in 1958.

The women's gymnastics team won the MAC championship in 2006 and 2013.

The Broncos track and field sprint medley relay team is currently[when?] ranked #1 in the NCAA.[8]

Awards

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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.[9] 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).[9]

Championships

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WMU's Waldo Stadium

NCAA Division I National Championships

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

NCAA Division I National Runners-up

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  • Baseball (1)
1955
  • Cross Country (Men's) (1)
1958

MAC championships

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  • Baseball (15 championships)
    • Regular season (14): 1989 • 1967 • 1966 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1955 • 1952 • 1951 • 1950 • 1949
    • Tournament (1): 2016
  • Basketball (Men's) (13)
    • Regular season (11): 2013–14 (West Division) • 2012–13 (West Division) • 2010–11 (West Division) • 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 (2): 2014 • 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 (5)
    • Regular season: 2000 (West Division) • 1999 (West Division) • 1988 • 1966 • 2015 (Co-West Division) • 2016
    • MAC Championship: 2016
  • Golf (Men's) (1)
    • MAC Championships: 1949
  • 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 (2): 2003, 2015
  • 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) (30)
    • Regular season (22): 2015, 2009 • 2008 • 2007 • 2004 • 2000 • 1999 • 1981 • 1965 • 1964 • 1963 • 1962 • 1961 • 1960 • 1959 • 1958 • 1957 • 1956 • 1955 • 1954 • 1952 • 1950
    • Tournament (8): 2016, 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

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  • Ice Hockey (Men's) (2)
1986, 2012

Non-varsity sports

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Synchronized skating

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Although the sport of synchronized skating is not 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.

Rugby

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Founded in 1990, Western Michigan plays college rugby in the Mid-American Conference of Division 1AA.[10] The Broncos reached the MAC semifinals in 2014.[11] Recently, the men's rugby team qualified for the D1AA XV's Fall Playoff Nationals in 2017 [12] and 2018.[13] The Broncos play their home matches at Versluis Dickinson park in Kalamazoo, and are led by head coach Mark Allen.

Championships

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United States Collegiate Ski and Snowboard Association (USCSSA) Championships

  • Snowboard Team (Combined Men's and Women's)
2005

American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) Division 2 Championships

  • Ice Hockey (Men's)
1996

National Intercollegiate Flying Association (NIFA) National Championships

1947
1948
1983
1998
2002

United States Figure Skating Association (USFSA) National Championships

  • Synchronized Skating – Collegiate division
2004

References

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  1. ^ Western Michigan Athletics Brand Guide (PDF). July 1, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  2. ^ "Hilltoppers are now Broncos". The Park City Daily News. January 22, 1939. p. 7.
  3. ^ Herndon, Jess (October 23, 2011). "'Epic Broncos' at ArtPrize reflects Western Michigan University, its mascot". Michigan Live. Retrieved July 2, 2012.
  4. ^ "(W Broncos logo)". Western Michigan University. Retrieved December 27, 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 18, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. ^ Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN 978-0-9893007-0-4.
  7. ^ "NCAA Division I Men's Cross Country Championship History". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  8. ^ Bronco Sprint Medley Team Ranked Nation's Best by Track & Field News – WMUBroncos.com—Official Web Site of Western Michigan Athletics
  9. ^ a b "Western Michigan Wins Cartwright Award". Mid-American Conference. Retrieved October 6, 2011.
  10. ^ "BGSU Top In MAC, But For How Long?". Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  11. ^ "MAC Semifinals Set", Rugby Today, October 28, 2014.
  12. ^ "D1AA Playoffs: Who Is Going In, Who Comes Out". Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  13. ^ "Fall College Playoff Brackets Set". Retrieved November 11, 2018.
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