KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan men's soccer program and head coach Chad Wiseman announced the addition of two more student-athletes to the 2020 roster. Valentin Sponer and Gavin Wigg will join the program and enroll at Western Michigan in the fall.

 
Valentin Sponer | 6-0 | D | St. Mary's College of California | Munich, Germany
Sponer, a defender from St. Mary's College of California, played three years with the Gaels and started 43 games. A native of Munich, Germany, Sponer received West Coast Conference All-Academic Team accolades in 2019 after being an honorable mention selection in 2018. The physics major finished his St. Mary's career with two goals, four assists, 24 shots and 10 on goal.
 
Why Valentin Chose WMU:
"I chose WMU because it felt like something special is going to happen here. The program is coming off a good season, has an incredible young roster and is set to perform well next season. Additionally, the communication with the coaches and university felt good right from the get-go. I can fully identify with the values of WMU and the soccer program, which is very important to me. I feel comfortable, very welcomed and excited for the fall!"
 
Coach Wiseman on Sponer:
"We are very excited to be adding Valentin to our program. He comes with a great deal of experience from a great program in St Mary's and has been a two-year starter on a top-25 team. He plays precisely the way we want our outside backs to play. He has the ability to get up and down the flanks and bolster our attack going forward out of that position. His delivery is also very dangerous in the final third and he is a very potent one-on-one defender. He will only be with us a short time, but we are looking forward to the veteran attitude he will add to the program from day one."

 
Gavin Wigg | 6-3 | D | Dublin Scioto High School | Columbus, Ohio
A standout midfielder/defender for Dublin Scioto High School, Wigg was a third team all-district and first team all-league selection in 2019, when the program finished 16-2-1. The Irish Division I district finalists and won the Ohio Capital Conference (OCC)-Cardinal Division title with a 5-1-1 ledger last fall. Wigg, a native of Columbus, Ohio, finished his career as a four-year letterman, three-year starter, two-time first team All-OCC selection and two-time third team all-district pick. He was committed to the University of Cincinnati program before it was discontinued in April. Wigg played club soccer for Ohio Premier.
 
Why Gavin Chose WMU:
"I chose to come to WMU because I feel like this is the best place for me to play at the highest level of college soccer."
 
Coach Wiseman on Wigg:
"Gavin is a big, strong athlete with the capability to play several different positions across the back line. He comes from an elite youth background with his club at Ohio Premier. He possesses very good leadership traits and has a phenomenal work rate, along with a hunger to improve. Gavin is very comfortable with organizing in the back and plays with a bite. He is good in the air and also quite technical with his feet. We are looking forward to seeing what Gavin can achieve over the course of his career at WMU."
 
Western Michigan finished the 2019 campaign with an 11-6-2 overall record and trip to the Mid-American Conference Championship semifinals. The Broncos defeated Michigan and Michigan State in the same season for the first time in program history and had five All-MAC selections, including MAC Freshman of the Year Charlie Sharp.
 
Already the Broncos have added Dante Bailey, Noah Brumels, Levi Crooks, Aidan O'Connor, Sean O'Meara, Kyle Scott, Ty Usiak and Josh Williams to the 2020 roster. 
 
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