WMU has become impressive in athletic department

When I stepped on Western Michigan University’s campus for the first time four years ago, I joined a school with a lackluster athletic tradition that seemed to be in a complete reconstruction.

Mike Feld

Football head coach Bill Cubit was in his first year following WMU’s 1-10 season that left the team in shambles. Men’s basketball had recent success in past years, but were headed towards a youthful movement. The women’s basketball team had plenty of talent, but suffered an up-and-down year, as did hockey. The men’s and women’s tennis teams were at the top of the Mid-American Conference, but no one knew it.

This year, I had the pleasure of witnessing one of the best overall years in sports this school may have ever seen. In the fall, football remained one of the most dangerous teams in the MAC, and although WMU did not bring home the conference crown, the team did compete in its second bowl game under Cubit.

At University Arena, the volleyball team met and exceeded everyone’s expectations. The Brown and Gold brought home a regular season MAC title, and capped it off with an appearance in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

Over at Lawson Ice Arena, the hockey team battled youth and inexperience all season, but managed to advance to the second round of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Tournament for the first time in 15 years. Senior Patrick Galivan showed up some of the country’s top hockey prospects, winning the CCHA scoring title as an undrafted, unknown role player for a team not expected to succeed.

Men’s and women’s tennis continued to dominate the MAC, and will look to return to the top with the MAC Tournaments coming up next week. Track has boasted some of the top runners in the country this spring, continuing a run of success in the past. Baseball and softball have struggled this spring, but have shown signs of brilliance nonetheless.

Of course, there’s plenty of other accolades that have come out of WMU sports this season, with too many to list in full detail. What I’ve gained through all of this, though, is that despite competing in a mid-major conference and not being on everyone’s radar, this is a fantastic school with a proud athletic tradition.

No, we may not have a large trophy room with an endless supply of national titles. We might not have so many All-Americans on campus that we receive our own segments on ESPN for recruiting days. But we have pride in Kalamazoo and we are building a foundation for the future of Bronco athletics that may one day rival some of the best in the country.

During my freshman year, I considered transferring out of Western Michigan for a variety of reasons. One of them was that I was disappointed and frustrated with the lack of athletic success and support this school received. Now, four years later, I’m glad I didn’t leave. Aside from the love of this school, the area and the friends I’ve made, I’ve learned to appreciate how humbled and resilient this student body is.

So to my fellow Broncos, thank you. Thanks for helping me realize what a great place this both on and off the athletic field of play.

Mike Feld, the Western Herald sports editor, is a senior majoring in journalism and can be reached via e-mail at herald-sports@wmich.edu

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=5879

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Apr 20 2009. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
Web Manager: I'm a Communication Student at WMU, a SCUBA Diver, Boater, Ordained Minister, Notary Public, Web Designer, Film Maker, DJ, and of course a Journalist. Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and a graduate of SC4. http://www.codykimball.com