Montclair State to drop wrestling and four other sports to club level

<< Back to Articles
MSU Athletics Release ()
01/21/2005


To insure that Montclair State University operates as cost-efficiently and effectively as possible, and with the well-being of its students as its prime consideration, the University periodically reviews and reevaluates all of it programs.    In the latest review of intercollegiate athletics at Montclair State, it was determined that due to limited available fiscal and human resources, the University can no longer effectively support 21 teams at the intercollegiate level. Since Montclair State is committed to maintaining the health and vitality of its athletic programs, the University has announced that five programs will be reclassified from varsity to club sport status. The five programs are men's and women's cross country, men's lacrosse, women's tennis and wrestling. The reclassification of these sports will be effective with the 2005-2006 academic year.    MSU Athletic Director Holly Gera said the review process was comprehensive and fair. "We studied this situation as thoroughly as possible," Gera said, "and considered such factors such as part-time status of head coaches, available local competition, conference affiliation, facility demands, travel considerations, and equipment costs."    Karen L. Pennington, vice president for student development and campus life commented that, "As part of a strategic planning process we identified areas where we might update our program. In order to insure that we could maintain the integrity of our varsity sports program, we felt the most prudent way to proceed was to reclassify these five programs. This will allow us to better utilize our limited resources to support our varsity teams at the conference level."    Gera said that these student-athletes will have the ability to continue participating at the club sport level; and in some sports can compete in invitational events. Gera noted that coaches of all five sports are part-time University employees.