Discontinuation of Wesley College Athletic Program impacting student

DELAWARE- It’s been an emotional roller coaster for Deana Ridolfo, a parent of a Wesley College Student Athlete, as well as for her daughter, since the announcement was made that the Wesley College D3 Athletic Program would no longer continue.

“It breaks my heart because she worked so hard for 13, 14 years,” Deana Ridolfo, a parent of a Wesley College Student Athlete, said.

Delaware State University made the decision to acquire Wesley College last year.

We are told by the director of news services at DSU that there was discussion on whether not to continue both D3 and D1 athletics.

But, after looking into things, it wouldn’t be possible.

“At the end of the day it was just unfeasible for Delaware State University to try to run two programs,” Carlos Holmes, the Director of News Services at DSU, said.

DSU said that they informed Wesley before the end of 2020 that this couldn’t financially be done.

But Ridolfo said Wesley didn’t notify student athletes until mid -February.

” I don’t have any knowledge when Wesley notified athletes, what I do know is that we did make it very clear to Wesley for the end of the year that this would not be able to take place,” Holmes said.

Ridolfo said because of this lack of communication now her daughter does not know whether she will be able play college soccer next year because a lot of recruiting is done.

“It has to do with the notification, the communication because if we would have known sooner we could have reached out sooner and made arrangements sooner,” Ridolfo said.

We reached out to Wesley College regarding the time on when they notified students.

In a statement back, Wesley College said “They are fully committed to Division III Athletics and looks forward to the opportunities that this Spring holds for our student-athletes and Campus community…As far as next year, and post-acquisition of Wesley College- the decision regarding Division III Athletics lies with DSU.”