OWENSBORO, KY - Kentucky Wesleyan College has announced that they will be reducing the number of sport programs offered within the Panthers Athletics Department.
 
Following the end of cross country competition this season, Kentucky Wesleyan College will discontinue the sport programs of men's and women's cross country and men's and women's indoor and outdoor track and field. In addition, men's bowling and the cheer team will both be re-classified as self-funded club sports.
 
"This is a very difficult day for KWC Athletics, several of our student-athletes and coaches, and a number of our teams," said Vice President of Athletics Mark Shook. "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."
 
Kentucky Wesleyan is not immune to the growing challenge nationwide to meet the financial resources needed to maintain competitive intercollegiate athletics. Along with resources, facilities and support staffing needs play a large role in these decisions of how to move forward as a College and NCAA Division II athletics department.
 
"The hard truth is that we 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," continued Shook. "We have to reduce our sport offerings to better match our resources, facilities and staff within our athletic program."
 
Shook stated, "There is no good time to deliver such difficult news. We have decided to move forward with the announcement now to provide our student-athletes and recruits with as much time as possible to explore options in the coming months, and to preserve their eligibility, should they elect to continue their collegiate athletics careers elsewhere.
  
Our students are the foundation of our success at Kentucky Wesleyan College, and we will support them in every possible way in the days, weeks, and months ahead. It is our sincere wish that the impacted student-athletes elect to remain a part of our community and earn their Kentucky Wesleyan College degree, but we will actively support whatever path they choose."
"We are committed to having an athletics program that is competitive and offers a transformative student-athlete experience for our student-athletes. An athletics program that gives our coaches and student-athletes a chance to compete and succeed at a high level."

The Panthers Athletics Department will move forward sponsoring 14 sport programs including football, men and women's basketball, volleyball, men and women's soccer, men's wrestling, softball, baseball, men and women's golf, men and women's tennis, and women's bowling.
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Important notes for the impacted student-athletes:

• For all impacted students on athletic scholarship, Kentucky Wesleyan College will honor those commitments to enable them to graduate as scheduled.
• All student-athletes who elect to remain at Kentucky Wesleyan College will continue to have access to the full complement of academic support and medical services, if they remain in good standing under Kentucky Wesleyan College rules and that circumstances allow.
• For those who wish to transfer to other institutions to complete their college athletics eligibility, they will be fully supported in that transition. The college will work to avoid associated costs for any student-athlete who chooses to withdraw from the College at the end of this semester.