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.
My concern is not as much for the Aaron Peirsol’s, swimming a 1:39 200 backstrokes, as it is for the middle of the pack to top end high school swimmer who loves the sport and wants to be able continue swimming in college. For most of these kids scholarships are not the primary concern. Many are just looking to participate as non-scholarship student athletes.
To Cynthia’s comment “what the male swimmers today face isn't as worst as the women faced in the past.” Should it be?
I would rather hope that we would be able to consistently improve both men’s and women’s programs. This is not the case. Women’s swimming opportunities increase while men’s decreases. I would love to see growth in both, not just one. I would assume if a Donna Devonna, Laura Val, June Krauser, or any of hundreds of other great swimming women were in college today they would be provide an opportunity to compete and many would have scholarships.
My concern is not as much for the Aaron Peirsol’s, swimming a 1:39 200 backstrokes, as it is for the middle of the pack to top end high school swimmer who loves the sport and wants to be able continue swimming in college. For most of these kids scholarships are not the primary concern. Many are just looking to participate as non-scholarship student athletes.
To Cynthia’s comment “what the male swimmers today face isn't as worst as the women faced in the past.” Should it be?
I would rather hope that we would be able to consistently improve both men’s and women’s programs. This is not the case. Women’s swimming opportunities increase while men’s decreases. I would love to see growth in both, not just one. I would assume if a Donna Devonna, Laura Val, June Krauser, or any of hundreds of other great swimming women were in college today they would be provide an opportunity to compete and many would have scholarships.
