The Boston University Department of Athletics announced Thursday the BU wrestling program will move to the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) for the 2013–14 season, which will be its last as a varsity program.
The Terriers will make the transition from the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) after spending 12 years in the conference.
BU will move along with Binghamton University, Drexel University and Hofstra University to the EIWA.
There are already 14 teams in the conference, including American University, the U.S. Military Academy, Brown University, Bucknell University, Columbia University, Franklin & Marshall College, Harvard University, Lehigh University, the U.S. Naval Academy, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Rutgers University and Sacred Heart University.
Director of Athletics Mike Lynch announced April 1 that BU would discontinue its varsity wrestling program following the conclusion of the 2013–14 season.
BU coach Carl Adams has led the Terriers to 10 conference championships over his 32 years in charge of the team. He is fourth among active coaches in career wins with 324 through the end of the 2012–13 season.
This past season, three Terriers qualified for the NCAA Championship. Junior Nestor Taffur — 2013 CAA champion in the 157-pound level — had two wins, while junior Kevin Innis (285) picked up a win at the NCAA Championship after claiming the CAA Championship.
Freshman Dane Harlowe also qualified at 133 pounds, placing third at the CAA Championships and won one of his matches at the national level.
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Let’s see. BU decided it was in the best interest of students and alumni to kill this “priority sport” because of attendance and lack of interest right? And what’s the deal with moving down a conference if you only have one year left? I mean why not kill it dead right now and spare everyone the heartache and torture of enduring the humiliation of descending a conference level only to quit the sport entirely. What? BU trying to save face and money?
In light of the 10,000 female student to the 6,500 males students at BU, this ratio must transcend into sports or athletic opportunities and BU apparently sees no reason to have men’s sports on campus. Which is confusing as the men’s lacrosse team has been upgraded from club to intercollegiate status, what gives? What’s the message to students and alumni?