These student athletes are the latest victims of the Higher Education Bubble.

The Western Nevada College baseball and softball teams will fold after the 2016 season because of funding cuts, college officials said Tuesday.

“It’s the toughest decision I made,” WNC President Chet Burton said. “These are great young men and women but, at the end of the day, I’ve got to look at the school as a whole.

“I have no funding,” he said.

The current student athletes will continue this year and next year before the program ends.

“Nobody in the program now will be hurt,” Burton said.

Burton said between the baseball and the softball program, there are about 50 students involved. Shutting down the programs will save the college more than $400,000 a year.

“It’s really a disappointment,” said Mayor Bob Crowell. “Baseball here is a nationally recognized team. Athletics may not be necessary but it enriches the school.”