NEWPORT NEWS, VA – The Captains are closing their sails and docking ships at the end of this competitive season after Christopher Newport University (CNU) President Bill Kelly announced the end to the Sailing Program.
Being the only Division I team at CNU, the decision came ultimately as a surprise to the community, particularly the student sailors.
“The whole team is honestly pretty shocked and upset,” junior Jacob Fleming said.
In an email Monday, President Kelly addressed the Captains to issue a statement in regards to the end of the varsity sport. In his message, he stated that the university has been confronting campus challenges, as well as opportunities, over the past few weeks.
He stated that declining participation and lack of funding for the sport led to “the difficult decision to make this the final season of competition for the Captains Sailing Team.”
For Fleming, this was his second season on the team.
He stated that when he joined, he didn’t have any prior sailing experience and walked-on. He learned everything he knows about sailing at CNU.
In his two years, Fleming stated he developed skills beyond just sailing, including teamwork and communication.
That experience allowed him to create connections on and off campus. “I built some really strong friendships along the way,” he said.
The decision hasn’t come easy to the sailing Captains.
“It’s been really tough for all of us to hear that the university is ending a program that’s been around for over 50 years, especially since it’s the only Division I program at CNU,” Fleming said.
CNU sophomore Hannah Louise Roethel told WAVY 10 that the last two years with the team have been some of the best two years of her life.
“I was able to find a great community who was welcoming and was able to push each other, not only on the water, but also in the classroom,” she told WAVY.
President Kelly acknowledged the team and Head Coach Dreugh Phillips in his message, as well as reflecting on the team’s 50-year history at CNU, stating “the Sailing Team has contributed to the remarkable record of success of CNU Athletics.”
He noted that part of this decision comes from “[the university] no longer [being able to] delay costly improvements to the fleet.”
He commended the team for competing against larger and better-funded teams, “they have certainly held their own and continue to do so this season.”
President Kelly stated that he told the team himself directly, seeing it to be his responsibility to share information of this magnitude.
The university stated it looked at its Strategic Compass to inform decisions, such as closing the program, to utilize resources received through tuition, fees and philanthropic support.
The CNU Board of Visitors is set to meet Tuesday, March 31 to discuss “operating budget, how tuition and fees are set, and key factors influencing tuition and fees this year,” according to a university issues announcement.
The team has seven more meets in the regular season. It is unclear if the team could continue as a club sport at this time.
