William & Mary Permanently Reinstates Swimming, Other Teams That Were Cut

Photo Courtesy: William & Mary Athletics

William & Mary swimming and diving has been reinstated, along with the other sports initially cut by the school during the financial woes of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The women’s program was reinstated in October because of Title IX issues, but now the men’s program, along with several other sports, has been reinstated.

William & Mary President Katherine A. Rowe announced that the university’s financial review will not affect any teams’ ability to compete:

“We recognize that every sports program annually depends upon generous support from alumni and friends in order to thrive. Moreover, W&M Athletics as a whole depends upon that generosity in order to avoid a moment in which sport sponsorship must be reevaluated to ensure the department’s financial sustainability while advancing equity.

In November, the university conveyed the expectation that men’s gymnastics, men’s swimming and men’s track & field would continue at least through 2021-22. We are pleased to announce that these programs will continue to compete, without a stated potential end date, as do all other athletics programs at William & Mary. To be successful, every sport at William & Mary will require sustained higher levels of philanthropic support going forward. “

Interim Athletics Director Jeremy Martin thanked the community for their commitment to sustained success for W&M Athletics and reiterated the need to maintain that momentum in the coming years.

“This fall, the William & Mary community reiterated the desire for a broad athletics program,” Martin said in a statement. “Thus far in FY2020, we’ve seen the financial commitment reflect that desire. However, the magnitude of the financial challenge is not diminished by success in a single year – it must be repeated and increased each and every year.”

Citing pressure over Title IX requirements and an internal review in the face of threatened litigation, William & Mary decided that axing seven sports on Sept. 3 was too heavy-handed. To preserve Title IX balance, designed to allocate equal athletic opportunities to men and women, the administration announced it would reinstate women’s swimming, women’s volleyball and women’s gymnastics.Now, all sports initially affected by the September decision are back.

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