COLUMN: Lindenwood learned the hard way Division I is expensive

Cole Bruenderman will compete against his local school in the Redhawks Indoor Invite on Jan. 14, and against his older brother, Evan Bruenderman, when Lindenwood and St. Louis compete in both the Vanderbilt Invitational (Jan. 19-20) and Illini Challenge (Jan. 26-27).

It will be an eventful month for the freshman, but instead of running for his present, he now has to run for his future.

Bruenderman's first year at Lindenwood will also be his last because the university announced a week ago its decision to cut 10 sports teams, including track & field as part of a larger effort to “rebalance” its staffing investments.

"As an athletics director, this is not a decision you ever want to have to make. Unfortunately, it is critical for the long-term sustainability of the department," said Lindenwood Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Jason Coomer in a statement on the university’s website. "I understand there will be considerable hurt felt by the ten teams impacted as well as by our staff and coaches.”

Along with cutting men's track and field, Lindenwood is taking the axe to men's and women's swimming and diving, men’s lacrosse, men's wrestling, cycling, women's field hockey, and women's gymnastics. The field hockey team played their last game without even realizing it. The rest of the teams will see their final days at the conclusion of the 2024 spring season.

Bruenderman is among more than 280 student-athletes impacted by the athletic cuts. One member of the wrestling team told me through a text that his team was "devastated" and "heartbroken" about the decision, and some have not gotten over it. It's a shame because Lindenwood recently hosted a wrestling tournament that included over 30 teams across all levels. Now, their home meet against Kent State on Saturday, Dec. 17, is one of three final home meets at Lindenwood.

What's worse is the reason why the cuts are being made. Bruenderman and a handful of wrestlers confirmed that the reason why their programs are no more is because of financial reasons.

This is a product of Lindenwood moving up from D2 to D1. The school moved to D2 from NAIA a decade ago. A rapid rise up the NCAA ladder means that college sports is a business now. NAIA programs like Missouri Baptist and Missouri Valley can have over 24 sports because, from an event standpoint, they're basically glorified high school sports. The same goes for any NCAA level below DI.

Once you reach the big time, even in the Ohio Valley Conference, the expenses are higher from scholarships to transportation and facility upgrades. Most D1 programs with a football team have more women's sports teams than men because Title IX requires a similar amount of male and female athletes and a football roster can have up to 100 players. It's no wonder the only male sports in Southeast Missouri State are football, basketball, baseball, and running.

Because of debt a budgeting problems, the non-revenue sports get cut. Now 284 student-athletes will either graduate or transfer to another program. If they're lucky, they will remain in the Divison 1 ranks. Evansville, a Missouri Valley Conference member, was in on Bruenderman a year ago before choosing Lindenwood, so he'll be fine.

Lindenwood is one of 351 Division I schools, and there are 10 more coming from Division II and another from NCAA Division III. Only Hartford recently made the move from DI to DIII. At this point, for most of them, is it worth it?