Upper Iowa University announced Thursday it is eliminating seven sports, including men’s cross country and track and field.
Men’s and women’s bowling, women’s tennis and shotgun sports also will be eliminated at the end of May.
“This is a very difficult day for Upper Iowa Athletics, several of our student-athletes and coaches, and a number of our teams,” athletics director Rick Hartzell said in a news release. “A decision like this is never easy. My heart aches for our coaches and student-athletes who are impacted by these unfortunate, yet necessary, actions.”
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The university noted in its release it is not “immune to the growing challenge nationwide to meet the financial resources needed to maintain competitive intercollegiate athletics.”
“The hard truth is that Upper Iowa cannot continue to support such a high number of intercollegiate programs given the reduction of tuition revenue that is being generated currently by fewer number of students who are attending colleges across the country,” Hartzell said.
UIU will continue to sponsor 16 sport programs — football, volleyball, men and women's soccer, women's cross country, men’s and women's basketball, men's wrestling, women's indoor track and field, softball, baseball, women's outdoor track and field, men’s and women's golf, and the fully-endowed cheer and dance program.
Upper Iowa also remains committed to the “on-time launch and development” of a women's wrestling program in the fall of 2024.
Upper Iowa, an NCAA Division II school, is leaving the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference after 17 years in May. The Peacocks will compete as a full member in the Great Lakes Valley Conference beginning in the fall of 2023.
www.thegazette.com
Men’s and women’s bowling, women’s tennis and shotgun sports also will be eliminated at the end of May.
“This is a very difficult day for Upper Iowa Athletics, several of our student-athletes and coaches, and a number of our teams,” athletics director Rick Hartzell said in a news release. “A decision like this is never easy. My heart aches for our coaches and student-athletes who are impacted by these unfortunate, yet necessary, actions.”
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The university noted in its release it is not “immune to the growing challenge nationwide to meet the financial resources needed to maintain competitive intercollegiate athletics.”
“The hard truth is that Upper Iowa cannot continue to support such a high number of intercollegiate programs given the reduction of tuition revenue that is being generated currently by fewer number of students who are attending colleges across the country,” Hartzell said.
UIU will continue to sponsor 16 sport programs — football, volleyball, men and women's soccer, women's cross country, men’s and women's basketball, men's wrestling, women's indoor track and field, softball, baseball, women's outdoor track and field, men’s and women's golf, and the fully-endowed cheer and dance program.
Upper Iowa also remains committed to the “on-time launch and development” of a women's wrestling program in the fall of 2024.
Upper Iowa, an NCAA Division II school, is leaving the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference after 17 years in May. The Peacocks will compete as a full member in the Great Lakes Valley Conference beginning in the fall of 2023.
Upper Iowa dropping 7 sports
Upper Iowa University announced Thursday it is eliminating seven sports, including men’s cross country and track and field.
www.thegazette.com
