Full Breakdown
California Baptist University Wrestlers Challenge Elimination of Men's Teams
3/28/2026, 4:48:39 PM
Lawsuit Filed Against CBU's Athletic Cuts
Three wrestlers from California Baptist University (CBU)—Jesse Vasquez, Paul Kelly, and Cooper Shore—have initiated a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, contesting the university's decision to eliminate its men's wrestling, golf, and swimming and diving teams by the end of the 2025–26 academic year. The university's stated rationale for these cuts is to achieve "greater competitive excellence" as it transitions to Division I athletics. However, the wrestlers argue that this decision disproportionately affects male athletes and violates Title IX regulations.
Implications of Title IX Misapplication
The lawsuit claims that CBU's actions are a misapplication of Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funding. The Pacific Legal Foundation, which is representing the athletes at no cost, asserts that the university's approach to achieving gender proportionality in sports is discriminatory. The cuts are expected to reduce the percentage of male athletes at CBU to align closely with the male enrollment ratio, leaving male students with only six sports options compared to ten for female students.
Caleb Trotter, a senior attorney with the Pacific Legal Foundation, emphasized that "cutting men’s programs to hit a quota isn’t equality; it’s discrimination." He argues that Title IX was intended to expand opportunities for all students, not to restrict them based on gender.
Background and Context
The wrestlers chose CBU for its Christian values and the opportunity to compete in a supportive environment. Jesse Vasquez, who holds dual citizenship with Mexico, aimed to train for the 2028 Olympics while serving as a graduate assistant coach. The elimination of these programs threatens their athletic aspirations and forces them to consider transferring or abandoning their sport altogether.
The Pacific Legal Foundation has also filed a separate petition to repeal the 1979 interpretation of Title IX, which introduced a "three-part test" for compliance, often leading schools to cut men's teams to meet gender ratios. Critics argue that this interpretation has been weaponized to justify the elimination of men's athletic programs rather than expanding opportunities for women, such as adding women's wrestling, which is rapidly growing in popularity.
Criticism and Opposition
The decision to cut men's teams has drawn criticism from various advocacy groups, including the American Sports Council and the 'Keep CBU Wrestling' coalition. Kristian Vasquez, a representative of the coalition, stated that this lawsuit highlights a broader issue in collegiate athletics regarding the reduction of opportunities for student-athletes under the current interpretation of Title IX. He emphasized the need for schools to pursue genuine solutions that expand opportunities rather than eliminate them.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Title IX was built to open doors for students, not close them,” — Caleb Trotter, Senior Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation
- “Cutting men’s programs to hit a quota isn’t equality; it’s discrimination.” — Caleb Trotter, Senior Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation
- “Paul, Cooper and Jesse and their teammates are standing up for their right to equal treatment under the law,” — Caleb Trotter, Senior Attorney, Pacific Legal Foundation
The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for how Title IX is interpreted and applied in collegiate athletics, particularly regarding the balance of opportunities for male and female athletes.
