WMU cancels four varsity sports
Western Michigan University will eliminate four varsity sports after the 2003-04 school year to cope with a struggling budget.
Men’s cross country, men’s indoor track and men’s outdoor track will be cut along with synchronized skating.
“We have known for two months that this was a possibility,” said Daniel Jankowski, WMU director of media relations. “It doesn’t come as a surprise.”
The elimination of these four sports will bring an annual savings of more than $535,000 to the university.
In the 88-year history of the men’s cross country and track programs, they have won 32 Mid-American Conference championships and two NCAA cross country team championships.
Synchronized skating was made a varsity sport in 1998 and in 1999 it became one of only two varsity collegiate teams in the nation.
All synchronized skating athletes are walk-ons and no scholarships are given to the sport.
One hundred athletes and three coaches will be affected by the cuts. Scholarship commitments to athletes will still be honored for each academic year they decide to attend Western after this year.
WMU President Judith Bailey will take her formal recommendation to the board of trustees Dec. 12.
“This was an incredibly painful decision,” Bailey said. “We know that eliminating any sport diminishes our ability to offer a well-rounded college experience.”
WMU is now down to the NCAA Division I-A minimum of 16 sports.
“There will not be any other sports being cut because we can’t fall below the 16 sport requirement,” Jankowski said.
The Broncos will still have MAC and Central Collegiate Hockey Association memberships and keep their Title IX compliance — which forces schools to have equal athletic opportunities for men and women.
Central head track and field coach Jim Knapp said he feels bad for the athletes affected by the cuts.
“Cross country and track is one of the traditional programs,” Knapp said. “I think there are other ways to save money.”
Marcy Weston, senior associate athletics director at CMU, said budget problems facing WMU have resulted in decisions best for the academic success of students.
“Difficult budget situations often result in difficult decisions,” Weston said. “Removing opportunities for athletes is a very difficult decision.”
Central cannot cut any more sports without dropping out of Division I-A. The university is already at the NCAA minimum of 16 sports.
“We are on very solid footing with the administration,” Knapp said.
