WMU News

Sky Broncos take third at national championships

May 2, 1999

KALAMAZOO -- Western Michigan University's Sky Broncos captured third place at the 1999 National Intercollegiate Flying Association Championship, bringing home the team's eighth consecutive top three finish at the annual event.

The Sky Broncos, who won last year's national championship, finished behind this year's top team, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University of Prescott, Ariz., at the April 27-May 1 event held at Kansas State University at Salina. The second place team was from the University of North Dakota. This year's top three teams also have claimed the top three spots in each of the past three national competitions.

Also among the 29 schools at this year's competition were Southern Illinois University (4th place), Ohio State University (5th), Purdue University (7th), U.S. Air Force Academy (10th); University of Illinois, Ohio University and U.S. Naval Academy.

The 14-member Sky Bronco team includes six members of last year's national championship team. They competed against teams from more than two dozen other colleges and universities from around the nation in the competition, which is judged on the basis of points earned in four flight events and six ground events. To participate at the national event, teams had to qualify by placing first or second at their regional competitions, which were held earlier this year.

Members of this year's Sky Broncos team include (those names preceded by an asterisk * were members also of the 1998 championship team):

Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 616 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu


Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
616 387-8400
univ-rel@wmich.edu

http://www.wmich.edu/wmu/news