WMU men's soccer honored for team GPA

Contact: Deanne Puca

Photo of the 2015 WMU men's soccer team.KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Western Michigan University's men's soccer program was honored for the fifth-straight season for its academic excellence by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

The Broncos concluded the 2015-16 academic year with an overall team GPA of 3.34, which ranked among the top of Division I institutions.

"It was another great year of academic success from the team," said WMU head coach Chad Wiseman. "The commitment to excel in the classroom over the last five years from the players has been outstanding. The guys are true leaders for this University, performing in the classroom, on the field and in the community. I am extremely proud of the work they put in to better this program every single day. We have an outstanding group of young men on the team that will go on to do big things. We should all be proud of their efforts."

The academic award is not new to WMU. The previous four years the program has carried one of the top 5 team GPAs among Division I schools. The Broncos had the highest Division I GPA in 2011-12 with a 3.45, was second in 2012-13 with a 3.46, third in 2014-15 with a 3.41, and fifth last year with a 3.44.

The NSCAA annually recognizes college and high school soccer programs that have excelled in the classroom, in addition to their work on the field. A total of 914 soccer teams—324 men and 590 women—across all division of collegiate soccer posted a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher, thereby earning the NSCAA College Team Academic Award for the 2015-16 academic year.

Of that total, WMU was one of 236 schools that had both their men's and women's programs recognized. The Bronco women touted a 3.55 GPA.

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