KALAMAZOO, Mich.- The Western Michigan men's soccer team reflected back on its 2016 fall season on Feb. 26. The Broncos recognized the many accomplishments of the year and celebrated this year's senior class - Edu Jimenez, Diego Lopez, Ruben Dos Santos, Hunter Vandenboom and Josh Whitaker.

"The end of the year banquet is something we look forward to every season," said WMU head coach Chad Wiseman. "It is extremely important that we get together and reflect on the season, pass out awards and also to celebrate the careers of the graduating seniors.  

"This year's seniors are the very first class that we brought in when we took over the program and are therefore a very special class to this coaching staff. Making it to your senior day is one of the most difficult things to do in college athletics, and I couldn't be prouder of our five seniors."

Western Michigan concluded 2016 with a 9-6-4 record and the Broncos rattled off a six-game winning streak at the beginning of the season.

The Broncos had five players voted All-Mid-American Conference and three earn NSCAA All-Region honors. Juniors Zach Bock and Brandon Bye were named First Team All-MAC, while Jimenez, Lopez and redshirt junior Drew Shepherd were named Second Team. Bock and Bye collected second team all-region honors while Shepherd was a third team selection.

Western Michigan's five all-conference selections was the second most in school history, following Broncos' six honorees in 2015. WMU additionally had two players recognized as MAC Players of the Week in Bye and freshman Anthony Bowie.

Academically, Western Michigan led the MAC with 10 of the league's 42 Academic All-MAC selections. There were only four perfect 4.0 GPAs in the conference, three of those coming from WMU - Bock (pre-business), Jake DeJulio (pre-business) and Cameron Sipple (exercise science). Also making the academic list was Bye, Shepherd, Nathan Hoover, Edu Jimenez, Connor McNulty, Alex Ruddock and Hunter Vandenboom. Six of those players went on the earn MAC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete honors. Jimenez grabbed a MAC Scholar-Athlete of the Week award during the season as well.

Western Michigan announced its individual team awards at the banquet, which were voted on by the coaching staff and team members.
Offensive MVP - Brandon Bye
Defensive MVP - Zack Bock
Senior Award - Edu Jimenez
Newcomer of the Year - Diego Lopez

"It was another incredible season both from a team and individual success standpoint," Wiseman added. "Both on the field and in the classroom, it seems like each year we are setting new records, only to surpass them the following year. I think it says a great deal about the direction our program is headed, and also the volume and caliber of high quality student athletes that continue to permeate this program.  

"With team success comes individual awards, and I am very proud to have the opportunity to present so many notable awards to these terrific young men."