These decisions come nearly two years after the University first announced the two teams would be discontinued as part of a comprehensive restructuring of its intercollegiate athletic program.

SRU President Robert Smith said the decision to stagger the discontinuation of the teams was influenced by the desire to allow each team to have a farewell season.
 
“Women’s swimming just completed its 2007-08 season. With the announcement today, students who will be seniors next year know they will have a final season at SRU and underclassmen will have time to evaluate the options concerning their future. Water polo competition begins in March so those student athletes now know definitively this is their final season.”

Smith said the University is standing by its scholarship commitment to any student-athlete affected by the decision.

“As we said two years ago, we will honor our commitment to students 100 percent,” Smith said. “We’ll also do everything possible to assist students if they choose to pursue athletic competition elsewhere.”  

The decision affects 13 student-athletes participating in the sports and will leave SRU with 10 women’s sports at the conclusion of the 2009-10 season and 7 men’s sports.

SRU competes at the NCAA Division II level as part of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.