Arizona State Cuts 3 Sports

May 13,2008, while the head coach Chasson was being informed of the cut of the Men's Swimming program at ASU, athletes were notified by email that their program would be cut. Ther was no notice, no warning, no time to raise funds given by the AD Lisa Love. Currently there is an effort to raise funds through www.saveASUswimming.com to build an endowment fund,and or provide for three years of operating costs to allow for time to raise the 5 million.

The swimming community is shocked that an Olympic sport would be cut from this Pac-10 school with such a rich history of producing world and Olympic Champions. Over 7,500 students have joined the facebook group. The team has raised a significant amount of money but not anywhere close to the 5 million the ASU Administration said they need to survive.

I am a coach and a mom with three youn men in college. One almost went to ASU to swim but chose another school. Thank God for him. My middle son who is on a crew team at Sonoma State said to me last week, "If I didn't have a sport to be involved in, I don't think I would be as interested in school and academics. When I work out, am a contibuting member of a team , and fill my time with focused activity, I do better in school. There is not time to do stupid things like other kids who drink and party themselves stupid. I am on a team to feel good about me."

Young men need sports. Swimmers work so very hard to get to the D-1 level in swimming. It breaks my heart to see men denied they opportunity to participate in their chosen path.

Coach Dia of CA 12:28AM June 06, 2008