UC Davis Swimming Pledges Support to Save Programs

PHOENIX, Arizona, March 29. A letter was distributed at last weekend's men's NCAA Division I swimming and diving championships by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America on behalf of the teams at UC Davis, which are in danger of being cut. Below is the letter, written by UC Davis head coach Peter Motekaitis, in its unedited form:

Dear Member of the Swim Community:

Two long time swim teams, the UC Davis men's program established in 1939 and the UC Davis women team established in 1958, are in trouble. While the programs have been around a long time, we have been competing at the Division One level for only three years. Our programs are working to solve the challenges facing our department. For example we have offered to coach for free for at least two years and some of our athletes are turning in their scholarships.

If you have not been to College swimming you might want to invest 2 minutes to watch this video: Http://collegeswimming.com/news/2010/mar/25/big-west-champions-targeted/

You can help by emailing your support for our cause. Our new Chancellor is unaware of the sport of swimming. Her vision for our campus is to protect silo's of excellence. She is also concerned about national recognition. Please email our administration support for the UCD swimming program about the level of excellence at the Division I swimming level. While we know our limitations in terms of placing high at the NCAA we feel that we can give the right swimmers an excellent opportunity to compete at this high level as well as give an entire roster of athletes the chance to be part of an excellent mid-major program. If possible pass this information to others who will also e-mail.

Every time we (the collegiate community or the general swimming community) lose a program the sport of swimmer is weaker. Programs gone, deny youth the opportunities to compete in the "best sport in the world".

Please email and cc: the following
Chancellor Katehi chancellor@ucdavis.edu
Vice Chancellor Fred Woods fewood@ucdavis.edu
Leslie Lyons chair of AAAC and in ICA workgroup lalyons@ucdavis.edu
Kim Elsbach Faculty Athletic Rep kdelsbach@ucdavis.edu
Greg Warzecka AD gwarzecka@ucdavis.edu
Nona Richardson senior woman administrator nerichardson@ucdavis.edu
Cindy Spiro Assoc AD ccspiro@ucdavis.edu

Thanks for your time,
Peter Motekaitis
UC Davis Swimming

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