“You hear stories about teams, programs, getting cut, but you never think that’s going to be you one day,” said Brynna Mardis, a junior on Cleveland State's women's golf team.

CSU announced in late January it was discontinuing women's golf, along with two other NCAA programs, wrestling and softball. The news, released to the community in an email Jan. 23, shocked many in the CSU sports community. 

The CSU board of trustees voted to discontinue the three sports as part of the university's efforts to address Cleveland State's budget deficit, which ballooned during and after COVID as student numbers plummeted. Some 60 student-athletes were affected one way or another by the university’s decision.

“We’re all devastated,” said Mardis, whom the golf program’s associate head coach Toni Meglen called the "big leader of the team."

Despite knowing that budget cuts were going to happen, Mardis says that they were unaware that their team would be impacted in such a major way.

She said she plans on staying at CSU to finish out her senior year, but with some teammates opting out of this season and most of the team transferring after the academic year, it has been hard for the team to be fully engaged.

“We’re trying our best to make it feel as normal as possible throughout practice, workouts and competition,” Mardis said, adding that the team had just recently come back from a training trip in Florida and that the realization of their days together as a team being numbered had started to set in.

Despite the hardship that has come with the discontinuation of the program, Mardis credits Cleveland State's coaches for supporting the team mentally and helping everyone transition going forward.

Coach Meglen says she wasn't shocked by the university's decision, given CSU's problems.

“We were mentally preparing just in case it would happen,” Meglen said. She added that she was saddened at the situation, but also understood the decision due to “everything that (CSU’s) having to deal with.”

Meglen is currently in her second full season as an associate head coach and has loved her time coaching both the men’s and women’s teams. Working hands-on with the athletes in practice and competition, Meglen said she got a chance to build relationships with students like Mardis.

“Leadership has been good, even in difficult times,” Meglen said.

As two of the six players on the women’s golf team plan to sit out the spring season, leadership amongst both the athletes and coaching staff will be important if the team is to finish the season strong.

“Although this season looks different than what we’re used to, we’re definitely going to cherish what’s left and make the most of it,” Mardis said.

CSU women’s golf team starts its spring season Monday at the Northern Kentucky University Spring Invitational in Highland, Kentucky.