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The Webber International Warriors are the athletic teams that represent Webber International University (WIU), located in Babson Park, Florida, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA),[1] primarily competing in the Sun Conference (formerly known as the Florida Sun Conference (FSC) until after the 2007–08 school year) for most of its sports since the 1990–91 academic year.[2] Its football team formerly competed in the Mid-South Conference (MSC) until after the 2021 fall season.[3] They are also a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), primarily competing as an independent in the South Region of the Division I level.
| Webber International Warriors | |
|---|---|
| University | Webber International University |
| Association | NAIA |
| Conference | The Sun (primary) |
| Athletic director | Brad Niethammer |
| Location | Babson Park, Florida |
| Varsity teams | 24 (11 men's, 12 women's, 1 co-ed) |
| Football stadium | Warrior Turf Field |
| Basketball arena | Sabbagh Athletic Center |
| Baseball stadium | Brad Niethammer Field |
| Softball stadium | Nancy Nichols Field |
| Soccer stadium | Warrior Grass Field |
| Lacrosse stadium | Warrior Turf Field |
| Tennis venue | Webber Campus Tennis Courts |
| Nickname | Warriors |
| Colors | Forest Green and White |
| Website | webberathletics |
Varsity teams
editWebber International competes in 22 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, track & field and volleyball; while women's sports include basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, cheerleading, cross country, flag football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, track & field and volleyball. Club sports include eSports and men's beach volleyball. The university also has an internationally respected bowling program.
Achievements
editBowling
editWith the backing of the world-famous Kegel Training Center in Lake Wales, Florida, Webber's bowling program has become one of the most successful in the United States. The men's program began in the 2008–2009 season, with a women's program added in the 2009–2010 season. The team has advanced to the national championship tournament in every season in program history.
The women's team won the 2010 intercollegiate team championship of the United States Bowling Congress (USBC), held in El Paso, Texas, in its first year as a program. The final was aired on ESPN2 on May 5, 2010.[4] The women's team followed this feat by winning two more USBC national titles in 2012 and 2016.
In the 2010–2011 season, the men's team was ranked # 1 for the entire season by the Bowling Writers Association of America and the National Collegiate Bowling Coaches Association (NCBCA). However, at that year's intercollegiate championship tournament in Columbus, Georgia, the team lost to Fresno State in the finals, which later were aired on ESPN2. In 2012 the men's team bounced back to win the USBC national championship. The team also won national USBC championships in 2017 and 2019, although the 2017 result was later vacated due to an ineligible player.[5]
In 2009 in its first year as a program, the men's team finished as national semi-finalists, losing to the eventual national champion, Wichita State. Head Coach Slowinski was named the NCBCA National Coach of the Year in 2010, in addition to being a finalist in both 2009 and 2011.
Men's soccer
editOn October 27, 2010, the Warriors defeated local rivals Warner to win the Crooked Lake Cup and qualify for the 2010 Sun Conference regional tournament. Although the series was tied 2–2 on aggregate, Webber won the conference portion and therefore were awarded the trophy.[6]
References
edit- ^ "Schools". NAIA.ORG. NAIA. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ "Members". Thesunconference.com. Retrieved 11 November 2015.
- ^ Wilson, Michael (25 February 2016). "Local teams officially join Mid-South football conference". The Lakeland Ledger. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- ^ United States Bowling Congress bowl.com [dead link]
- ^ Bigham, Terry. "USBC Collegiate to Vacate Webber International Men's 2017 ITC Title". United States Bowling Congress. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
- ^ "Warriors Clinch Place in Regional Tournament as they lift Crooked Lake Cup".