CSU student-athletes devastated over discontinuation of NCAA wrestling, women’s golf and softball programs – The Cauldron
“We were not aware that this decision was coming, the athletic[s] department chose not to
warn us of the cut when they submitted the report including our teams, and we found out the
day that the final decision was made.”
Many student-athletes at Cleveland State University (CSU) report that they’re struggling with the news that their respective National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) programs are set to be discontinued, a decision finalized and announced on Thursday, Jan. 23.
An email from the Office of the President to the campus community shared that the CSU Board of Trustees voted to discontinue the University’s NCAA programs in wrestling, women’s golf and softball at the conclusion of their respective seasons this academic year.
This decision, made with the input of “representatives from CSU [a]thletics, our faculty and community partners,” comes as the University attempts to address a burgeoning $40 million budget deficit.
“Over the past several years, one of our primary goals has been to restructure our financial model and to evaluate where our students are engaged academically, socially and competitively,” CSU President Laura Bloomberg, PhD., said. “As a result, our athletics department, like many other departments at CSU, has had to make difficult decisions regarding the programs we offer.”
CSU added that the affected student-athletes will retain their financial aid and have provided them with “proportional athletics participation opportunities” to make up for the cancellation of their programs.
That being said, these student-athletes are still trying to cope with the news.
“My initial reaction to the news was shock, then anger, then quickly tears and sadness. My team was immediately upset. My coach was also very upset and shocked by this news. Because of my major, chemical engineering, it is in my best interest to remain at Cleveland State for my senior year. One of my biggest struggles with this news is the fact that I will have to return to Cleveland State next year as a non-athlete. I knew that the time would come where my competitive years of golf would end, but I did not anticipate it being so soon, and I did not anticipate having to come back to school being a non-athlete. It’s extremely unfair, this whole situation.”
“My reaction was mainly shock and how confusing it was. It came out of nowhere that my life will forever be changed. I later felt sadness once I came to the realization that I will either be leaving the campus and people I’ve learned to love to wrestle at another school or end my dreams of wrestling in the NCAA tournament. My team had similar reactions, lots of confusion on why the decision was made.”
According to Blackburn and Quillin, their teams were not made aware of the discontinuations prior to the meeting of the Board of Trustees. Blackburn mentioned that rumors were “circling the athletics department for a few months…but no specific teams were the subject of [those] rumor[s].” This unawareness extended to their coaches, said the student-athletes.
“We were not aware that this decision was coming, the athletic[s] department chose not to warn us of the cut when they submitted the report including our teams, and we found out the day that the final decision was made,” said Blackburn.
Blackburn and Quillin added that they’ve received some support and will retain access to student-athlete resources, though there are still many unanswered questions about the “proportional academic opportunity” that CSU mentioned in the announcement.
“These services and assurances we were provided were almost meaningless to the damages they had caused to every single athlete and coach in our wrestling, softball and women’s golf programs,” said Quillin.
Regardless of the opportunities given, neither feel their teams can be replaced.
“Nothing will ever be able to ‘replace’ this team and this experience for me, but the department and my coach are trying their best to make this a smooth transition and not cut affected athletes out of the community entirely,” said Blackburn.
The Cauldron reached out to a student-athlete in the softball program, though received no response prior to publication. The Cauldron also reached out to the communications directors and coaches of each affected sport, with no response.
Budgetary concerns: are wrestling, women’s golf and softball generating deficits?
Wrestling, women’s golf and softball do not generate stand-out deficits for the University. In fact, wrestling has generated revenue, according to May 2024 findings by Ernst & Young (EY) presented at the CSU Faculty Senate meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
In an attempt to assuage budgetary shortfalls, CSU entered into a $900,000 contract last year with EY, an accounting and consulting firm, to serve as a point of guidance.
The deficits made by women’s golf and softball do not compare to the two million dollar deficit generated by the men’s basketball team.
Reported at the latest CSU Faculty Senate meeting on Jan. 29, findings by Ernst and Young (EY) show that wrestling, women’s golf and softball do not generate concerning deficits for CSU. Photo Credit: Mays Turabi
This fact factors into the confusion of student-athletes, especially in the wrestling program, shared Quillin.
“If we were losing millions of dollars for the [U]niversity like both of our basketball programs, it would make sense, but we are one of the few self-funded athletic programs on campus, so the real reason we are being discontinued is our team’s reason for confusion.”
A GoFundMe to save the wrestling program has been opened by senior wrestler and mechanical engineering major, Joey Lyons. Over $6,600 has been raised toward a $16,000 goal.
“We are devastated to share that the Cleveland State Wrestling Program has been abruptly canceled, leaving countless athletes, alumni, and fans heartbroken,” reads the GoFundMe page. “For decades, this program has shaped lives, instilled discipline, and fostered a sense of community and pride on and off the mat. Today, we refuse to let this rich legacy be erased without a fight.”
Blackburn shared that despite the devastation, she looks ahead to finish her education and fulfill the “student” part of being a “student-athlete.”
“As for the wrestling and softball teams who have also been discontinued, my heart hurts for everyone involved,” said Blackburn. “The wrestling team has been strong in their attempts to spread word and save the program. I hope that this attitude and determination also applies to softball and women’s golf. If you save one, save us all, please.”