UC Davis cuts wrestling program

It's a sad day for college wrestling. Officials at UC Davis announced that it is cutting five sports due to budget concerns. Among those being cut with wrestling are men's swimming and diving, men's track and women's rowing.

The Aggies, coached by former University of Iowa and Cedar Rapids Prairie wrestler Lennie Zalesky, advanced three to the NCAA tournament in March but did not have an All-American. UC Davis was a member of the Pac-10 for wrestling. The conference is now down to just seven members, consisting of Arizona State, Boise State, Cal Poly, CS-Bakersfield, CS-Fullerton, Oregon State and Stanford.

The NWCA All-Star Classic was held at CS-Fullerton this last November to help raise money to save the Titans' program. Arizona State almost lost its program as a budget-cut casualty before donors were able to save the Sun Devils program.

Read about the financial crisis and cuts here.

This loss is sad news for college wrestling, which needs any program it can put on the mat. It's especially tough on the sport, because it's a college program out West. While many programs are located East and in the Midwest, there are few Division I programs on the West Coast.

Here is an AP story about the cuts as well.

DAVIS, Calif.-The University of California, Davis is cutting four of its 27 intercollegiate sports programs in response to deep cuts in state funding.

UC Davis officials said Friday that it will eliminate women's rowing, men's swimming and diving, men's wrestling and men's indoor track and field.

Those cuts will help the UC campus save $2.9 million over three years. The programs will be discontinued by July 1 and will affect 153 student athletes and seven coaches, who will lose their jobs.

Officials called the decision difficult but necessary to balance its budget and preserve its other athletic programs.

In response to state budget cuts over the past two years, UC Davis also has eliminated courses, increased class sizes, reduced student services, increased fees and cut student enrollment.