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Keep CBU Wrestling Movement Initiated, Donate and Share To Assist Cal Baptist Wrestling Program

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by David Gerhart, USA Wrestling

California Baptist University has recently announced it will discontinue its wrestling program after the 2025-26 season. A group of Cal Baptist alumni, parents and community leaders has organized the Keep CBU Wrestling Movement to raise awareness and the funds needed to endow the program.


The wrestling community can learn more about the movement to help endow and reinstate Cal Baptist wrestling at keepcbuwrestling.com.


Cal Baptist joins Cal Poly and Cal State Bakersfield as the only NCAA Division I wrestling programs in Southern California. For many athletes, CBU represents a nearby, realistic opportunity to continue wrestling at the highest level while earning a college degree. When programs like Cal Baptist are at risk, it impacts the future of wrestling, not just at one school, but across the region.


Cal Baptist started its wrestling program in 2008-09 and saw a rapid rise with the program moving from NAIA to NCAA Division II in 2013-14. The Lancers then transitioned to NCAA Division I at the start of the 2018-19  season and joined the Big 12 in wrestling in 2022-23.


During its 18-year history, the Cal Baptist wrestling program finished third at the NCAA Division II National Championships twice. The Lancers have also sent wrestlers to the NCAA Division I Nationals each of the last two seasons.


NCAA Division I wrestling has recently experienced hardships within the state of California, as the state now only has four programs.


Fresno State recently discontinued its wrestling program for a second time following the 2020-21 season. Fresno State’s program was reestablished in 2017 after first being dropped in 2006. In 2020, Stanford announced it was going to discontinue its wrestling program following the 2020-21 season until the school reversed its decision in 2021 to keep the program, along with 10 other athletic programs. UC Davis and Cal State Fullerton also dropped Division I wrestling programs in the past 15 years.


26 Division I wrestling programs have been dropped since 2001. Most recently, Cleveland State announced its intention to drop wrestling after this season.


Support the effort by following @keepcbuwrestling on Instagram and sharing with the wrestling community.