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UC Irvine Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving Programs Suffer From Budget Cuts

Due to the current economic crisis, UC Irvine Intercollegiate Athletics discontinued five sports teams. The Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving teams, along with Men's and Women's Rowing and Sailing were ones affected.

Both swimming and diving teams are not going down without a fight however. An nonprofit organization, Anteater Swimming and Diving Foundation (ASDF), has already been formed by the swimmers, interested alumni and the community to help raise funds to reinstate the programs. The word is already spreading like wildfire throughout the swimming community here in Southern California. KTLA news covered the initial meeting that was held between alumni, swimmers, coaches and the interested people from the community. They also had interviews with Jeff Hoskinson, President of the ASDF and Brian Pajer, the Head Coach of both men's and women's teams. These interviews were aired on the news last week to help spread awareness about the situation. Several newspapers have also expressed interest in helping the cause and spreading the word, here are the links to some of them so far:

• OCVarsity.com
• Swimming World Magazine
• The Daily Pilot
• The Daily Breeze

While the news is spreading as fast as Hollywood gossip, moral support is not going to help the teams get reinstated. The Athletic Director at UC Irvine, Michael Izzi, said that $2.3 million were needed to get both teams back. With about a month and half left until the academic years starts, everybody is scrambling to get the word out about the situation and letting people know that the ASDF is accepting donations by check at:

or online through PayPal. The swimmers have already begun going to local age group swim meets around Southern California to pass out fliers that include the address and website to help start the donation movement.