Maybe there is something the USMS community can do to help save swimming at Syracuse University. Below is a letter to the editor I recently sent to the Syracuse Post Standard and two links with additional information. Be sure to visit the petition site below:
I was disturbed to hear that my Alma Mater Syracuse University may be joining the growing list of universities that have cancelled their swimming programs.
I have fond memories of the university and was a member of the 1982 Big East Championship swimming team.
Today, in my "spare" time, I'm a coach of a USA Swimming age group team and the head coach of a US Masters Swim Team in the Philadelphia area. Every week I'm around hundreds of swimmers of all ages and see first hand how important the sport is in developing healthy lifestyles and long lasting friendships.
In addition, I have two daughters who are excellent swimmers and I hope that they can compete in the sport that they love through college. It appears as if they won't be able to do that at Syracuse University. The same is true for the many other soon-to-be-college-age swimmers I coach.
Evidently, SU wants to compete in sports in which they can regularly contend for NCAA championships. Rather than try to build the team, they chose to quit. That's the "winning spirit." What a negative message to send to athletes of any sport.
Did I break any NCAA swimming records? No.
Was I part of something special 25 years ago? I'd like to think so.
Did college swimming help me down the path to a happy, healthy, and successful life? Absolutely.
Shame on Syracuse University for taking that opportunity away from others.
Robert Bonsall
Syracuse University Class of 1985
www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/.../14840.aspwww.thepetitionsite.com/.../850963259
