Uneasy waters: Reasons for axing Duquesne men's swimming don't add up

Duquesne University announced Monday that four men's sports would be cut in order to "place the athletics program in the very best position to be successful in the future." But according to swimmer Erin Sykes and the rest of the women's swim team, the cuts will have the opposite effect.

"Unlike what Greg Amodio said about this being beneficial to all the other teams left over, this is devastating to the women because we are not two teams, we are one team," said Skyes, in reacting to plans for the men's swim team to be axed. "We train together, we travel together, compete together, and we are family.  It's like cutting half of our team, not just one team."

While Sykes, a junior, said the loss is devastating to the women, she also said the two teams are hoping that there could be a possibility of the men's team remaining on campus.

On Wednesday, the men's and women's swim teams met outside of University President Charles Dougherty's office and delivered a letter signed by every team member. Sykes said the teams hope to schedule a meeting with Dougherty so they can voice their concerns.

"We are looking to President Dougherty to save this program, because he has the ability to do this," Sykes said. "None of the reasons the athletic directors have given us are adequate for cutting this program. The men's team is an exemplary athletic and academic program, and so we're hoping President Dougherty will get back to us and will save the program."

Dan Doyle, a junior on the men's swim team, said other colleges have considered cutting their swim programs but have been able to raise money through donations and sponsorships to keep the programs intact. Doyle hopes Dougherty and the University will at least explore the idea.

Besides the men's swim team, baseball, golf and wrestling are also on the chopping block.

Many of swimmers are still confused as to why the men's swim team was chosen as one of the sports to cut. According to senior swimmer Ian Walsh, the team has performed well in the Atlantic 10 Conference as well as in the classroom. Last year, the team ranked 12th scholastically in all Division I swimming programs. Both swim teams placed third in the Atlantic 10 Championship meet last year.

"We've had great success academically. Two semesters, ago we had a 3.2 grade-point average, which was 12th in the nation. Within our conference, we've been so successful. [Coach] Dave Sheets has taken this program and built it from the ground up," Walsh said. "This year is going to be our most promising year. We probably have the strongest team together, and it's just a shame that after this year, it's going to end."

Doyle said the athletic department has been unable to provide the team with a solid explanation except for financial reasons, which Doyle said he can't understand.

"The more that I think about it, every reason just really didn't match up to evidence. I just don't see how Duquesne swimming was chosen as a team to be cut, especially since we share expenses with the girls' team," Doyle said. "We share the facilities. We share the bus rides. We share all these expenses and really, they'll still have to pay for all that. The financial reasons they gave, I thought, were a little ridiculous."

For now, Doyle said the team will await a response from Dougherty to see if there is any chance of potential fundraising opportunities or corporate sponsors.

For Doyle, Sykes and their teammates, the university eliminated more than just a sport on Monday.

"This isn't just a team. It's not a sport to us. These 70 athletes, student athletes, it's our family. This is what we do every day. This is what we know."