By Sharon Robb
EAST LANSING, Michigan, October 22, 2020–In another crushing blow to college swimming and diving, Michigan State announced Thursday it is cutting the men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs at the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.
South Florida Aquatic Club’s and Pembroke Pines Charter alum Kelley Heron is currently a junior and competes in the backstroke and individual medley.
The Academic All-Big 10 and Scholastic All-American is a school record holder in the 200-yard backstroke in 1:58.68 at the Big 10 Championships. She swam season-best times in the 100 backstroke and 200 IM and had one first place, five seconds and seven third place finishes during the 2019-20 season. She also holds the freshman record in the 200 backstroke.
Heron, 21, is majoring in Kinesiology and plans to be a Physician Assistant.
Michigan State is the eighth Division I school to cut swimming and diving this year because of the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Other Division I programs cut are East Carolina, Connecticut, Boise State, Dartmouth, Iowa, William & Mary and La Salle. This week William & Mary reinstated the women’s program.
No one will lose a scholarship if they remain MSU students. Counseling and mental health services will also be available. The swimming and diving teams cost $2.07 million in 2018-19. Financial donations will be welcome, university officials said, but the decision to end the program “is final.”
Michigan State is coached by Matt Gianiodis, who has been head coach since 2003, and Associate Head Coach Kathleen Milloy, who joined the MSU staff in 2002 after serving four years as an assistant coach at Clemson.
In a gripping letter to the MSU community from Bill Beekman, Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and President Samuel Stanley, the university cited “a financial crisis unlike any we’ve ever seen,” with an estimated $30 million shortfall.
The letter read:
“The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have touched every area of our life. It’s forced us all to evaluate not only our current place, but also our prospects for the future. Michigan State Athletics is not immune from those calculations. Sadly, as a University and an athletic department, we’ve reached a decision that MSU Athletics will no longer sponsor men’s and women’s swimming and diving as varsity sports following the conclusion of the 2020-21 season. We understand that the news is devastating to our outstanding student-athletes in these sports, as well as to their coaches, but with every thoughtful analysis it became increasingly clear that we were not positioned to offer the best experience to our student-athletes, either now or in the future.
“Today’s decision does not end our commitment to the student-athletes and staff within the swimming and diving programs. Scholarship commitments will be honored beyond this year for any student-athletes who choose to finish their undergraduate degree at Michigan State. For student-athletes who wish to transfer to another institution, Michigan State Athletics will help them with their transition. Contracts for all coaches will be honored (through June 30, 2021). During this transition, and for the duration of the student-athletes’ time at Michigan State, the athletic department will offer counseling and mental health services for those who would find them of assistance.
“In making our decision, we took a hard look at whether we were in position to offer a first-class experience with championship level support to our student-athletes. While they receive first-class academic support, medical care, strength and conditioning and nutritional amenities, it’s become abundantly clear that we are not able to support their dreams for excellence in the pool. Despite the best efforts of our dedicated coaching staff, led by head coach Matt Gianiodis, our swimmers and divers are limited by the facilities at their disposal. Having always competed in a smaller than regulation pool, the recent closure of the outdoor pool at IM West left our athletes without a regulation size pool in which to even train. It’s a situation that limited our coaches’ ability to attract talented student-athletes and hampered our student-athletes ability to maximize their potential. These are not scenarios created by a national pandemic, but rather an understanding that there is not a reasonable expectation of a better situation in the future. Unfortunately, this all led us to our inevitable decision.
“MSU Athletics is facing a financial crisis unlike any we’ve ever seen in college athletics. Our best-case scenario this year projects a revenue shortfall in excess of $30 million. Our worst-case scenario would more than double that number. While we have made significant reductions in both personnel and non-personnel expenses, closing the gap such that we can balance our budget, sustaining that balanced budget in the coming years requires deeper cuts than can be made by simply spending less. To be clear, this is not a move made to save money during the pandemic as there will be little financial benefit this year, as all scholarship and contracts will be honored. It’s a decision that will better position Spartan Athletics for long-term financial stability.
“Discontinuing a sport is one of the most difficult decisions for an athletic director and university leadership. It has a significant impact on members of our community, and when they hurt, we all hurt. While the decision we make today is final, we will continue to support our student-athletes and affected staff the best we can.”
MSU officials said the school does not anticipate any other sports will need to be cut in the foreseeable future.
Facebook blew up Thursday night with emotional reactions.
“Please when is this going to end???? Stop with excuses. Admit it that you are using this situation as an excuse. Tragedy!!!” wrote Pine Crest coach and Iowa alum Mariusz Podkoscielny.
“Very sad day! Shame on you Michigan State Athletics. So horrible. I had a sick feeling that it was coming. A dear friend’s daughter is now swimming as a Spartan. They just renovated the indoor natatorium. Ridiculous!!” wrote local attorney Michael Bernstein, a MSU alum, USA Swimming official and father of Brooke Bernstein, a former Pine Crest and Tufts swimming standout.
“I heard this might happen right after Iowa cut theirs,” wrote 1988 Olympian and former Bolles coach Jon Sakovich.
“Why? That is just horrible,” wrote Gar Lester.
“Sad,” wrote Marc Brotman.
“Oh, come on man!” wrote Colorado Dolphins coach and former FLST and Cardinal Gibbons coach Duffy Dillon.
“This makes me so angry. Michigan State has a football and basketball program that can easily support minor sports… not to mention they have nearly 50K under and grad students. What a shame,” wrote Carey van Boxtel.
“Agree with you that they are using the pandemic as an excuse to eliminate all Olympic sports. The plan is for football, basketball and nothing,” wrote Don George.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com
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