Highlights from the 2015-16 Season - Athletic Season Accomplishments

Recap the athletic season accomplishments from the 2015-16 year

In recent years, Western Illinois Athletics has recapped the highlights of the sports season with a Top 15 in '15 or Top 14 in '14. While compiling a list for the 2015-16 season, it was difficult to limit to just 16 items. So that's why the list for this year will be revealed a little differently.

Over the next few weeks, Leatherneck Athletics will recap the main highlights from five different categories: Academics, Newsworthy Announcements, Athletic Season Accomplishments, Record Setting Performances, and Single Game Heroics.

In the Single Game Heroics category, WIU Athletics will give fans the opportunity to vote via social media on their favorite memory from the 2015-16 season in a bracket-style format. More information on the bracket voting will be announced in the near future.

As always, Go Leathernecks!

Athletic Season Accomplishments (Excellence over an entire year, not just a game or week)

-- Football won the final two regular season games (both in overtime) to finish 6-5 and earn a bid to the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Western won its postseason opener at Dayton before losing in the Second Round. It marked the 10th playoff appearance all-time in program history. The Leathernecks became the first 6-5 team ever to earn an at-large bid to the playoffs, finishing with the toughest schedule in the country.

-- Women's Basketball made their first-ever appearance in the Women's Basketball Invitational tournament, and fourth Division I postseason berth all-time. The Leathernecks won their opening round game against Southern Illinois 99-97 in overtime thanks to a Mallory Boyle lay-up with 0.2 seconds remaining. Western lost in the next round 81-78 at USC Upstate.

-- Drew Whalen capped his impressive soccer year by being named The Summit League's 'Offensive Player of the Year'. It marked the ninth time in program history Western Illinois earned a 'Player of the Year' award.

-- Nikko Watson sat out the first two games of the season, but the senior running back made such a big impact he was voted First Team All-Missouri Valley Football Conference. Having not played in a game since 2015, Watson rushed for 1,196 yards and 14 touchdowns.

-- Karissa Kouchis (softball) was named the Western Illinois Female Senior Student-Athlete of the Year and JD Furr (swimming/diving) the Western Illinois Male Senior Student-Athlete of the Year.

-- The men's golf program competed in 13 events during the 2015-16 year and finished among the 'Top 3' six times, including a win at the Indiana University NYX.

-- A total of 29 times a student-athlete earned All-Conference honors during the 2015-16 year. Five student-athletes were named to the conference's All-Newcomer team.

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