Ames and Cedar Falls, Iowa (RI) – A bill in the Iowa House would require Iowa State and the University of Northern Iowa to revive their baseball programs.
Representative Skyler Wheeler of Hull – the head coach of the Unity Christian High School baseball team — is the bill’s author.
UNI last fielded a baseball team during the 2009 season and ISU’s baseball program was shut down in May of 2001. Athletic directors for both schools cited budget constraints when announcing those decisions.
Carolann Jenson — a lobbyist for the board that governs all three state universities — suggests a lot has changed since the programs were terminated.
The University of Iowa is the only one of the three state universities to have a baseball program today.
Wheeler, a native of Washington state, played first baseman for Red Raiders of the Northwestern College in Orange City.
NCAA rules allow DI baseball programs to offer nearly 12 total scholarships — and the roster is limited to 27 players. The bill has cleared a House subcommittee with the support of Wheeler and another Republican. The panel’s other member, Democratic Representative Dave Jacoby of Coralville, says he’ll back the bill if it also requires Iowa State and UNI to add womens’ wrestling programs.
Over 200 Iowa high schools had a girls’ wrestling program this year. In 2021, the University of Iowa added a womens’ wrestling program.
