24-04-2025
Athletes at Limestone University hit the transfer portal
GAFFNEY, S.C. (WSPA) — Despite a potential funding life saver, Limestone University's future is still uncertain.
Limestone University faces possible closure
On Tuesday, the university's board of trustees said they needed more time to come up with options to save the school.
While athletic events are still underway at Limestone, student-athletes are in contact with coaches at other schools, trying to figure out their next steps if the school closes.
The transfer portal is a large aspect of college athletics, but student-athletes at Limestone University are not entering the portal by their own choice.
'Where do we go from here?': Students, athletes react to possible closure of Limestone University
According to a spokesperson for Limestone University, if the school stays open, athletics will continue next fall, but student-athletes said time is running out to make a decision.
'The school is mostly made up of athletes and it is so late in the game and a lot of people do depend on scholarship to be able to go on to college and get that higher education and so do I,' said Mariya Montgomery, a Volleyball player at Limestone,
Competing for Limestone comes with a sense of pride.
'I love Limestone,' said volleyball player Calie Covey. 'The people make it ten times better. The athletics of course but I would do anything to keep it open.'
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'Coming to Limestone was a big change,' Limestone Volleyball player, Jenna Szabelski said. 'I was definitely scared to come but it changed my life — it has been such an amazing school.'
Student-athletes said competing as a Saint is more than a number or name on the back of their jersey, it's about being part of a family.
'The chemistry is great,' said Evan Soeffker, a baseball player. 'A bunch of scrappy guys we are a family out there. Practice is great and everybody is really just playing for each other.'
On the football team, freshman running back Myran Hunt said he's entered the transfer portal.
'It is weird,' Hunt reflected. 'I feel like I am in high school again, starting all over, but everything happens for a reason.'
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A lot of students' future career in college athletics is unknown.
'It is crunch time for people,' Covey continued. 'People are closing rosters so I just hope someone will take me.'
For seniors heading into graduation, things also feel different.
'I definitely feel a lot of guilt,' Szabelski explained. 'I was proud to watch them next year and come back and cheer them on and to see them go through these hard times it is really hard and really sad.'
Head Baseball Coach Brett Harker is facing an oddly familiar situation. Harker was at Furman when the Paladins dropped their baseball program in 2020.
'What I have learned through all this is I am done with loyalties to universities or NCAA,' Harker said. 'My loyalty is to these players so just figuring how to best serve these guys.'
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Harker says the most difficult part is making sure his players are taken care of.
'I have never had a university call me and invite me to their wedding or send me pictures of their first child, but over the last 14 years, I have gone to a lot of weddings and get pictures from proud dads,' Harker said. 'I find myself at a point now where I only care about them.
Linda Greenberg is the mother of a baseball player at Limestone. She said that she wanted the university to be a home for her son.
'Everyone is still in shock and now panic has set in because we have to find him a place,' Greenberg said. 'He has to find a place.'
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Through it all, athletes like Soeffker, said the difficulty has only made them stronger.
'We know this could be the last time we play together and some of us ever see each other again so we are really just playing for each other,' Soeffker said. 'The guy next to you is going to get you recruited so you just play your best.'
Many athletes said if Limestone stays open, they will stick around.
The question still looming is if Limestone University will continue on. A decision on if the university will close will be announced no later than April 29.
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