Limestone College will be cutting both their men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs, according to an announcement posted on their athletics page this week. The decision reportedly came from the Board of Trustees at the recommendation of the Athletics Committee, which cited “aging and deteriorating facilities” and “historically low participation” as the main reasons behind the decision to cut the programs.
The school said in the statement they do plan to honor the scholarships of those athletes who choose to stay at Limestone, while those who wish to transfer will be given a full and immediate release.
The program, which began in the 2006-07 season, was a part of Division II and had won three events at the NCAA Championships (1 in 2008 and 2 in 2009) while accumulating 145 total All-America honors. This comes on the heels of Eastern Michigan University making the decision to cut their men’s swim team, who had won 34 conference titles through this season.
You can see the full statement from the Limestone Athletics Department below:
Following a comprehensive strategic review of athletic sponsorship, Limestone College has announced that it will discontinue the men’s and women’s swim programs effective immediately.
“This was a very tough decision to make,” said Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Mike Cerino. “Limestone Athletics has been involved in a campus-wide assessment and evaluation process, and it was through that review that this need for a strategic redistribution of resources became evident.”
At the recommendation of the Athletics Committee, the Limestone Board of Trustees voted to discontinue men’s and women’s swim during the spring meeting held on Friday, April 20. An official announcement was held until the coaches and student-athletes were informed of the decision earlier this week.
Financial aid packages will be honored for the current student-athletes who wish to remain and complete their degree at Limestone. A student-athlete who wishes to transfer and compete at another institution will be given their full and immediate release.
The pool will still be available for recreational use and agreements with the YMCA and Gaffney High School swim team will continue to be honored.
Aging and deteriorating facilities and historically low participation factored heavily in the decision to drop sponsorship of men’s and women’s swim. Both teams practiced and competed in an outdated aquatic facility, which was constructed inside the Timken Center in 1976.
“These types of changes are always difficult,” Cerino continued. “It is especially tough for our student-athletes, coaches and alumni of the programs. I would like to thank Coach Eddie Gillie and all of our student-athletes, past and present, for the positive impacts that they made on the Limestone community.”
The Saints won three NCAA Division II National Championships on the men’s side, winning the 200-yard freestyle relay in 2008 and 2009 while also capturing an individual 50-yard freestyle title in 2009. Limestone has combined for 145 All-American honors (116 men, 29 women) and 33 Academic All-American accolades (20 men, 13 women) since the inaugural 2006-07 season.
Press release courtesy of Limestone Athletics.
If it were a football field that were outdated I’m sure it would get the renovations it needs to continue the sport.
Kinda sad there is now only 1 college level swim team in South Carolina. Not much incentive for kids who want to stay in state, take advantage of the in-state scholarships and swim. USC has a great D1 team but it’s not big enough to take every high school swimmer in state. Pity CofC and Clemson shit their program years back.
Drew Boyd ?!?!
BS excuse to shut down the program. The pool isn’t been closed, it will remain open for recreational purposes so the costs to maintain the facility don’t go away, and if the pool was such a deterrent to recruiting and performance, then why did the men have their highest ever finish in conference last season (3rd). Oh and the women finished 4th.
So sad announcement was held. Until this late date. Clemson at least announced the “phase out” plan . really is a statement about the value Limestone places on students. Granted they brag about honoring scholarships but fail to acknowledge the effects on students finaancilaay and emotionally. Transferring is expensive and these athletes are faced with decisions that should…and could…have been made months ago when opportunities were still open. Sad statement about real values at this institution.