CHARLESTON, Ill. (http://www.EIUpanthers.com) -Eastern Illinois University Director of Athletics Dr. Rich McDuffie announced Thursday (May 17) that intercollegiate wrestling will be discontinued, effective immediately.

        "For the past three years, the NCAA has collected academic performance data and implemented its new Academic Performance Rate (APR). Due to wrestling's academic performance over the past few years, the sport has received NCAA penalties in scholarship reduction and further penalties could include post season competition restrictions and/or recruiting restrictions.

        "Therefore based on wrestling's academic performance as per the NCAA's new Academic Performance Rate, the discontinuation of the wrestling program was regrettably a decision that had to be made," said McDuffie.  

        Current coach Ralph McCausland will be retained by the University and reassigned to a position yet to be determined.

        "We are indebted to Ralph for his long service and contributions to the University and its student-athletes.  We hope he will choose to remain a staff member," said McDuffie.

        Eastern will also continue its scholarship commitments to current wrestling student-athletes including those who have signed National Letters of Intent to attend the University this fall.

        EIU's academic services and compliance staff will assist any wrestlers who choose to transfer.  Based on their academic standing, they could be immediately eligible at any other institution.

        Eastern will now have 11 women's sports and 10 men's sports.  With 21 sports, EIU still offers more sports than any other institution in the Ohio Valley Conference, which is its primary conference affiliation.