Wheaton College to Discontinue Women's Water Polo

Wheaton, Ill. -- Officials at Wheaton College announced today that the College will discontinue five varsity sports at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

The College will no longer offer men's and women's golf, men's tennis, men's indoor track, and women's water polo, reducing the number of varsity sports offered from 22 to 17.

Vice President for Student Development Paul Chelsen and Director of Athletics Dr. Tony Ladd recommended the elimination of the programs, based in part on input offered in 2002 by an Athletic Task Force. The task force was formed in 2001 to find ways to strengthen Wheaton's athletic programs amid financial challenges.

"Our athletics budget has been under increasing strain over the past 10 years," Ladd said. "While we've implemented several strategies to increase financial resources, we've had little success in making the kind of changes that would allow us to retain these programs."

To determine which programs might have to be discontinued, the Athletics Task Force considered criteria including potential savings, impact on gender equity, admissions impact, competitive success, fan interest, student-athlete interest, potential for improvement, seasonal balance, adequacy of facilities, and cost per participant. They also retained several sports that are required by the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin.

"While this was a deeply difficult decision, our hope is that it will allow the College to balance our athletics budget and to strengthen and sustain the remaining 17 programs," Chelsen said. "Our mission will still be to focus on the values of excellence in competition and Christ-centered discipleship."

Wheaton College will continue to offer baseball, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's cross country, football, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming, women's tennis, men's and women's outdoor track, women's indoor track, volleyball and wrestling.

Release courtesy Wheaton Athletic Communications