East Carolina Swimming and Diving seeking help from the community.
East Carolina University recently cut four athletics programs – women’s & men’s tennis and women’s & men’s swimming and diving, as part of the school’s budget restructuring efforts from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, past and present members of East Carolina Swimming and Diving have banded together to try and save the program from being cut by starting #SaveECUSwimmingandDiving campaign on social media. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts have been created, and a petition, which has already reached over 15,000 signatures, has been started.
One of the alumni of the program is accepting donation pledges at saveecuswimanddive@gmail.com. The group has raised over $200,000 in hopes of approaching $1 million to help save the program.
East Carolina University qualified one swimmer each to the NCAA men’s and women’s swimming and diving championships, with freshman Kristen Stege making the women’s meet in the 1650 and senior Gustavo Santos making the men’s meet in the 100 butterfly. The Pirates also qualified a diver to NCAAs in Roy Romero.
In recent history the men’s swim and dive team have won 4 out of the last 6 conference championships including this past years championship. The women’s team improved this past year from 6th in the conference to 4th.
Follow the cause on social media:
- Facebook: Save ECU Swimming and Diving
- Twitter: @SaveECUswimdive
- Instagram: @saveecuswimdive
- Donate via email: saveecuswimanddive@gmail.com
Thanks For covering our story. The entire swimming community suffers when collegiate swimming programs are cut. We need your support. Meredith. ECU swimming alumni
Keep going
The pride in our pirate swimmer, this fine group of young adults, their academic and swimming accomplishments, cannot be diminished by the inexplicable excuses to extinguish a program of such merit. We are devastated by this decision. Our immediate and complete devotion to this university has been squandered.
Swimming World, THANK YOU for sharing the message about our cause. The cuts happening to college programs will have a ripple effect in US swimming for years to come as it limits the number of spots available for club swimmers who want to continue competitive swimming in in college. There are other teams before us who have successfully had decisions like this reversed. The Pirates of ECU are up for the challenge! With the support of organizations like you and your readers, we can reinstate the program. #saveecuswimdive http://www.Facebook.com/SaveECUSwimDive