Western Michigan Broncos men’s soccer ready for NCAA Sweet 16
, 2022-11-24 11:37:03,
Kalamazoo — Chad Wiseman has built a successful Western Michigan men’s soccer program largely through relationships and bonding, so when the pandemic hit, it stunted the Broncos’ momentum.
The 2020 fall season was postponed until the spring of 2021, but even then, and in the subsequent fall 2021 season, it wasn’t really the same. The team could play and practice, but couldn’t really together like they typically would be together.
So, before the fall 2022 season rolled around, Wiseman organized a team trip to Boyne, where for five days this past August, yes, they practiced and they played, but they also explored Lake Michigan, played paintball, and tried their hands at disc golf. They stayed at the resort, team captains holding a fantasy draft for roommates, being sure to fill the roster properly, with someone who could cook, someone who could clean, etc.
“We left that,” said Wiseman, “feeling really good about ourselves.”
They left that feeling like a good soccer team, and a really close soccer team.
So perhaps it’s fitting that, on this holiday weekend, the Western Michigan soccer players, coaches and support staff are spending it together, more than 2,200 miles from Kalamazoo.
The Broncos will play host Portland (14-2-3) in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament at 8 p.m. Eastern Saturday, at Merlo Field. A win and Western Michigan men’s soccer (16-2-2) will make the Elite Eight for the first time.
Canceling Thanksgiving Day plans never felt so good.
“Yeah, I was actually going to see some family in Chicago,” said Charlie Sharp, a senior forward from Brighton who was the early nominee to cook the turkey at the team hotel Thursday. “But I’m unable to do that now, which I’m perfectly fine with, to be quite frank with you.”
Said Matt Lockwood, a graduate student and defender from Utah, who transferred from Utah Tech and who had initially planned to visit his mother in Northport on the Leelanau Peninsula: “Honestly, I hope it doesn’t come off as selfish, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’d rather be in Portland preparing for what’s going to be the biggest game of everyone’s lives than going and having Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving, that’s always going to be there. But having the opportunity to play in the Sweet 16, that’s once in a lifetime.”
This season has been the ride of a lifetime for the Broncos, who last made the NCAA Tournament in 2017 — that was the last and only previous time they made it to the Sweet 16, falling to Michigan State.
Western Michigan…
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