LOS ANGELES --- Last weekend, Sabercats Men's Soccer standout Wira Wama and MBU Women's Soccer head coach David Anderson received awards at the NSCAA Convention. 

Wama earned NCCAA DII Player of the Year honors for Men's Soccer while the Sabercats Women's team garnered the NISOA Sportsmanship Award for their fair play at the 2016 NCCAA DII National Championships, where they finished fourth after two disappointing shootout losses.

"I think this award speaks highly of our players’ commitment to the core beliefs we have established as a program," stated Anderson. "We set out at the beginning of the season to hold ourselves accountable in all phases of the game; so this award is just a fruit of each girl’s dedication to our team values as demonstrated in our play."

Anderson collected the award from the NCCAA prior to the NSCAA All-America luncheon, where Wama was presented with the Player of the Year plaque for his on-field exploits in 2016.

"It feels good to be recognized and to be given such an award to end my career as a college athlete," stated Wama. "But even when I think that I am good enough, there are people who stood by my side and contributed to my successful soccer career at MBU. So, I thank God for my family, my local church, my friends, my teammates, my coaching staff, and my sponsor for investing their time and effort not only in my successful soccer career at MBU, but in my life as a person."

Wama's noteworthy career included 43 goals (2nd all-time at MBU) and 17 assists (7th all-time at MBU). Wama was named to the NCCAA All-America first team his last three years as a player, and earned second team honors from the NCCAA during his freshman year in 2013.

The NSCAA Convention, which is commonly known as the largest convention of its kind in the United States, attracts over 10,000 coaches, players and fans to a week-long soccer immersion which includes panels with world-renowned players and coaches; field sessions with top-level coaches and instructors in the U.S., equipment markets, award ceremonies, and more.

"I am humbled to say that [attending the convention] was a blessing," said Wama. "We met up with famous soccer players and coaches and hearing their stories was an honor for me. For example, hearing Tim Howard’s story of how he became a soccer icon in USA and throughout the world was amazing."