Phillip Whitten is trying to say that there were as much womens programs in swimming than men's programs in the 1970's and early 1980's. I disagree for one, many women that are just a few years older than me didn't swim in college. For starters top swimmers like Laurie Val in her early 50's didn't swim in colllege. There were a lot less programs for women than the male swimmers and only a few women got scholorships to swim in college. Also, I swam at the Community College level and a year before I started they just added 100 yard swims for women in back, fly and ***. They the California JR's still don't have the 200 yard distances but the women voted to keep the 50 distances instead. The male swimmers at the community college had two practices a day during their prime workout season while the women had one when I swam back in the 1970's. The male swimmers had state while the women's program added state after I left. I understand Mr Whitten being upset about elminating men's programs but that doesn't excuse him for changing history and stating that women had as many programs as the men did by 1981.
Parents
Former Member
I don't think guys should pay for the past. But what the male swimmers today face isn't as worst as the women faced in the past. Donna Devonna couldn't even get a scholorship. But Aaron Perisol didn't have problems even with the cutback with the men programs. Should your son swim in college, it depends upon where he goes to school at. It depends upon what state he wants to go to school at. Arizona doesn't have as much opportunites as nearby California at the college level for more moderate level swimmers.
I don't think guys should pay for the past. But what the male swimmers today face isn't as worst as the women faced in the past. Donna Devonna couldn't even get a scholorship. But Aaron Perisol didn't have problems even with the cutback with the men programs. Should your son swim in college, it depends upon where he goes to school at. It depends upon what state he wants to go to school at. Arizona doesn't have as much opportunites as nearby California at the college level for more moderate level swimmers.
