California Baptist announced Friday that it will discontinue wrestling and two other men’s sports at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year. 

In a release from the school, California Baptist vice president for athletics Micah Parker said: “We have closely monitored the shifting landscape of intercollegiate athletics that has affected institutions across the nation. While we had hoped to continue offering our full slate of athletic programs in this new environment, it has become clear that changes are required to realize the university's goal of achieving greater competitive excellence that the new Division I era demands.  

“As the university looks toward competing in the Big West Conference starting in July 2026, it was necessary to discontinue some athletic programs in order to offer remaining student-athletes and teams the best chance to succeed.”

The school is also discontinuing men’s golf and men’s swimming and diving. 

California Baptist wrestling was just getting started at the Division I level after completing the transition from Division II in 2020. Hunter Leake became the school’s first two-time Big 12 placewinner last season and pushed eventual NCAA champ Lucas Byrd to the limit last year at the national tournament. 

The Lancers came into this season with hopes of accomplishing more firsts for the program at the D1 level.

“Every year as our recruiting picks up and picks up, higher-level mentality athletes are stepping into the room,” coach Derek Moore said in November. “So I think that has been one of our keys to our success as each of these guys are trying to do something that hasn’t been done before.”