CAS Broncos score academic and athletic honors in the MAC

Twelve members of the 2015 Western Michigan football team have earned academic All-Mid-American Conference honors. Two of them are students in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Lucas Bezerra, a sophomore in biology, is from Rochester Hills. He appeared in all 13 games for the Broncos in 2014 primarily on special teams playing on both punt teams, kick return and field goal squad. Coaches like his wide receiver-like athleticism and ball skills, which make him huge match up problem for opposing defenses.

J. Schroeder, a senior in political science, hails from Columbus, OH. His GPA is 3.50. He is a punter for the Broncos and made his collegiate debut in 2012 with a 67-yard punt at Illinois, the longest for WMU since 2007.

He played in 2013 and in 2014, he appeared in all 13 games and was named Third Team All-MAC, Academic All-MAC and he earned MAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete Award. Schroeder also participates in community service by volunteering at Children’s Hospital as a youth soccer referee, for miracle league baseball and the Christmas Carnival for Adventures for Wish Kids.

The Academic All-MAC honor is for a student-athlete who has excelled in athletics and academics.  To qualify, a student-athlete must have at least a 3.20 cumulative GPA and have participated in at least 50 percent of the contests for that particular sport. First-year students and junior college transfers in their first year of residence are not eligible for the award.