StickItMedia put out an article with some terrible news about the possible downfall of the Cal Men's Gymnastics program. Currently only 17 men's NCAA gymnastics programs remain and the loss of Cal could be devastating to the gymnastics community.
Below are excerpts from the article on StickItMedia:
We’ve been hearing rumblings about the possible demise of the Cal Men’s Gymnastics program. Even the women’s program is also presumedly on the chopping block. In light of all the budget cuts and the state’s overall fiscal degradation, both programs’ subsidization is ruffling the tender feathers of the more militant, sports-averse members of the school’s faculty. Apparently Cal’s athletics department racked up a $1.7 million deficit this past year and received a loan from the school’s general fund.
Adding to the alarm was discovering Coach Barry Weiner’s retirement after this past season, along with the resignation of Assistant Coach Aaron Floyd. Liz Miles, a staunch supporter of the men’s program, is, for unknown reasons, no longer the Assistant Athletic Director.
We hear a decision about men’s and women’s gymnastics will be made next month. Elimination of Cal’s men’s gymnastics would be devastating for the team, the state, and NCAA men’s gymnastics as a whole. Locally, it would have a huge negative affect on Stanford’s program. It would leave Stanford as the only men’s Division I gymnastics program west of the Rockies.
Two current US National team members, Glen Ishino and Kyle Bunthuwong, are members of the Cal Gymnastics team and training towards London 2012. US National Team member and 2009 World Championships finalist Tim McNeill is a graduate of the Cal men's gymnastics program and won 5 NCAA National Titles while at Cal. Their program continually produces quality guys and have always been one of the top programs in the nation.
You can help by making a donation to the men's gymnastics program. Click here to DONATE.
Cal was the first men's program we featured in Workout Wednesday back in the fall of 2008. Here's a look back:
Help save the Cal Men's Program
Visit the official site: CalGymnasticsForever.com
There are links to donate to the program and a template for the letter writing campaign. It is believed that loosing Cal will be the first domino in the final demise of men's collegiate gymnastics
It's not just about Cal...if Cal goes, this really could be the beginning of the end for the Men's NCAA.
It's five minutes to midnight, and the clock is ticking...
Donate now...while you still can.
Please support the men of Cal gymnastics with your donation! They deserve your concern.
Please help us save our gymnastics team. Currently the alumni are starting a letter-writing campaign. Donations made directly to the team will help
https://givetocal.berkeley.edu/egiving/index.cfm?Org=Gymnastics-Mens&Fund=FF0526000
Thank you for your support!
This is a tragedy that almost equals the loss of UCLA's men's program many years ago. Cal's men's team is a strong contender year in and year out and has so many quality student/athletes on the roster. It is too bad the women's program is an embarrassment year after year and has dragged down the men's program with it. I made a donation to support the Cal men and I hope others do the same.
We CAN NOT let this happen!!! please,everyone, support the mens and womens gymnastics teams!!
NOOO this is so bad. They are a major player in the men's gymnastics world and with so few schools with ncaa mens programs I feel like this could be the beginning of the end if Cal goes. Will be especially bad for stanford who will now have to fly to every single away meet.