Mount Senario to suspend athletics

By BOB VARMETTE

Journal Sports Writer

Financial problems at Mount Senario have forced the nonsectarian liberal arts college in Ladysmith, Wis., to suspend athletics indefinitely. The Fighting Saints will cease all intercollegiate athletics following a men's basketball game Saturday.

According to James Unke, Martin Luther athletic director and UMAC commissioner, the school's board of trustees, upon recommendation from an executive committee, voted Wednesday morning to suspend all intercollegiate athletics indefinitely following Saturday's men's basketball game with Northland. The Fighting Saints' women's basketball team will play its final game Friday with Silver Lake.

The school has also dissolved its membership in the UMAC.

A release Wednesday afternoon from the office of Mount Senario president Charles E. Holt stated the college "announced today the College will implement its revised mission statement and strategic plan at the end of this semester. ... To recommit the entire institution to its core values, as defined by the students, faculty, staff, and Board, the College has suspended active participation in intercollegiate athletics."

The release said the announcement was part of a six-month process of redefining the school's mission. The process was mandated by the North Central Association of Schools and Colleges -- Mount Senario's accrediting agency.

The moves are thought to be primarily financially motivated. According to Unke, Mount Senario is said to be $500,000 in debt this semester alone.

The college, in addition to cutting intercollegiate athletics, also said a number of faculty and staff positions will be terminated or consolidated. The school said the total number of personnel affected would not be determined for several weeks.

"The release is all the college wants to say about this, and other than that I have no comment," Mount Senario athletic director John Speers said.

Mount Senario's financial difficulties have been widely-known for several years. While the college's future is uncertain, Unke said the cutting of intercollegiate athletics is the first step to solving the problems.

"They said they need to get their house in order, financially. They will be open as an institution with no sports," Unke said. "I really have to credit Dr. Charles Holt. He is absolutely committed to doing it right. As tough of a decision as it was, I think maybe that's the right decision for Mount Senario."

The loss of the Fighting Saints leaves the UMAC without one of its most successful members. Mount Senario teams have won at least eight UMAC championships, and two national titles, since 1995.

The decision will first be felt in men's and women's basketball as the remaining UMAC schools will now either scramble to fill the dates or play two fewer games. MLC was scheduled to play Mount Senario in a men's/women's doubleheader Jan. 16 in Ladysmith. The Knights were scheduled to host the Fighting Saints teams Feb. 2 for Winter Carnival.

While the suspension most immediately affects basketball, its biggest impact may not be felt until Fall 2002. Less than a month ago, the UMAC finalized arrangements to expand to a 10-team, two-division football league. Wednesday's decision leaves much of that, particularly scheduling, up in the air.

"It screws up the conference, all the planning," MLC football coach Dennis Gorsline said. "I haven't done much, but Jim (Unke) and (UMAC football commissioner) Matt Hill from Northwestern have worked their butts off with the scheduling and with all the meetings. So that part really messes everything up."

One option that has been discussed is the addition of Macalester to the UMAC for football only. Macalester recently elected to leave the MIAC for football due to competitive reasons.

Unke said some discussions have taken place between UMAC and Macalester officials. But Macalester sports information director Andy Johnson said the school, at this time, was planning to play as a football independent in 2002.

"We're definitely not joining any league," Johnson said. "We're not looking for that right now."

That would leave the UMAC with nine schools for football. Mount Senario would have been in the North Division of the expanded UMAC, along with MLC, Trinity (N.D.), Crown and Northwestern (Roseville). The South Division is made up of current UMAC member Maranatha, and new schools Blackburn, Principia and Rockford out of Illinois, and Westminster (Mo.).

Unke said an expanded football UMAC would still be viable with nine teams. But there would be scheduling difficulties, most notably the floating open date for the teams that had scheduled games with the Fighting Saints.

Hill said "several schools" have been in contact with him about joining the UMAC for football. Hill declined to reveal the names of those schools, but added an announcement regarding possible additions could be forthcoming within a week.

Another option for the UMAC is to switch its affiliation to NCAA Division III. The conference has scheduled a vote March 19.

If the conference should vote to leave the NAIA and go Division III, Unke said several schools, including Minnesota-Morris, have expressed interest in joining the UMAC. Currently, Minnesota-Morris, a Division II program, is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

The fallout from Mount Senario's suspension of athletics is not clear, Hill said. But he added the UMAC will continue to be a strong conference.

"It's not a total shock," Hill said. "We knew there was some trouble previously. You never want to lose a member. You never want to see that with anybody. ... I feel very sorry for the athletes and the coaches, and the people who are losing their jobs at Mount Senario."