California Baptist University has instructed its campus media to stop reporting on the three athletics programs that were cut at the beginning of the year: Men’s swimming & diving, men’s wrestling, and men’s golf.
In an email that’s surfaced on social media, CBU assistant athletics director Matt Horrocks tells campus media that the school is “putting a hold on any publicity for men’s swimming & diving, men’s golf, and wrestling.” Student journalists have reportedly been told not to cover the three sports for the remainder of the season.
View this post on Instagram
Cal Baptist announced it was cutting the three men’s teams on Jan. 2 due to the “ever evolving intercollegiate athletic landscape.”
The email from Horrocks came after the school’s controversial handling of its wrestling team in late February. The team planned on wearing “Keep CBU Wrestling” singlets in their final home dual meet of the season, but the administration threatened to forfeit the match unless they wore the normal CBU gear.
They were also reportedly told to sign paperwork agreeing to follow admin directives.
I’m told that this video was taken moments before the Cal Baptist’s final dual. An interesting listen, to say the least. pic.twitter.com/K3YJ2C4Mk1
— Justin Basch (@JustinJBasch) February 26, 2026
The Keep CBU Wrestling Instagram page released the following statement after the video surfaced:
View this post on Instagram
Despite the news of the program being cut at the end of the season, the Cal Baptist men qualified three athletes to the 2026 Men’s NCAA Division I Swimming & Diving Championships next week, with Mark Kovacsics earning a spot after winning the 1650 free at the MPSF Championships in February. Last week, Mario Del Valle Jr. and Gael Jimenez earned spots at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
The Lancers men’s and women’s teams both placed 4th at the 2026 MPSF Championships.
View this post on Instagram
A source close to the team has also indicated to SwimSwam that CBU athletics has started “phasing out” the women’s diving program, including instructing the head coach to stop diving recruitment, though CBU Athletics and swim & dive team coaches have not responded to a request for comment.
The Keep BCU Swim & Dive Instagram page said the group will be hosting a peaceful walk around campus on Sunday, March 29, where student-athletes can show their support for the program.
Sounds like Cal Baptst has been infiltrated by bullies who need to go, not the “minor” Olympic sports teams.
But what does God want?
He would probably want to see his children excel. As long as you’re asking.
It is a real shame they’re cutting the program.
To quote the GOAT Prez (TRUMP!),the press is the “Enemy of the People.” So I think this California Baptist University campus media better do as they’re told. MAGA!
Everyone know the truth is only what Trump says it is…
^^ It’s insane people actually believe this nonsense.
CBU’s administration stinks… for cutting the teams, for threatening the student-athletes, and for stifling the campus news.
What’s even more bizarre is that the email doesn’t seem to indicate “oh we’re telling you not to report negative things about the programs being cut.”
It’s “oh if we don’t talk about them it will be easier to make people forget they existed.”
Gross.
It’s hard not to feel embarrassed for California Baptist University. I have many great memories there—helping Coach Rick Rowland win a lot of championships and watching so many swimmers thrive and improve. My own children also flourished there, and I watched the university grow in sports, academics, and in its influence encouraging people to follow Christ.
I can understand a financial decision. I can even respectfully disagree with the decision to force all sports to move to Division I. I can also understand the pressures universities now face with the requirement to pay athletes much of the revenue that once helped support academic programs and other sports—something CBU had no control over.
What I cannot understand is why the administration… Read more »
Having met Steve when taking my college swim team to Cal Baptist, I agree with his assessment, sadly as well. To summarize from my morning letter to the CBU administration, they are acting in ways that are the opposite from Jesus’ commands; “as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me”, and “bless those…who mistreat you.” Administrators, just like coaches and parents need to be aware and take positive advantage of these “teachable moments”. I am sorry to say that CBU is teaching these athletes the negative things.
Shameful.
Another sad downward step in the complete unraveling of college athletics
University administrators are some of the most pointless and power-hungry positions in the country. They treat it as an exclusive club where they hire their friends, create random positions, collect massive paychecks, and do virtually nothing. On the flip side, the faculty and educators of these universities get the short end of the stick. It’s a problem all over the country.
The exact definition of a government funded NGO.
Hey so that’s not what I was talking about