Save Hawkeye Sports

Save Hawkeye Sports

Started
August 21, 2020
Petition to
The University of Iowa and 1 other
Signatures: 24,017Next Goal: 25,000
Support now

Why this petition matters

Started by Michael Nelson

Welcome Hawkeyes!

This is our first newsletter to the broad group of people who stood with us to support saving the Olympic sports of Swimming and Diving for women and men, men’s Gymnastics, and men’s Tennis. If you are receiving this message, it is because you have done at least one of the following – signed the petition at Change.org, pledged to support reinstatement of the sports, a parent of one of the student athletes directly affected by this decision, asked how you could help of someone already on the team, or signed on to the letter Vickie Nauman sent to the Iowa Board of Regents. You’re a part of former athletes, parents, concerned alumni and others who see this effort as a just cause.

So much has happened in a short amount of time, largely due to your engagement! Thank you. We’re making progress. Read on to learn the latest.

What’s happening? 
After talking with several legislators from the Johnson County delegation, we were able to secure a meeting with Executive Vice President Rod Lehnertz. Special thanks to those legislative leaders – Senator Joe Bolkcom, Senator Zach Wahls, and Representative Mary Mascher. Their counsel and assistance made such a difference! 

On Saturday, October 17, three of our team participated in a Zoom meeting with Rod Lehnertz where we discussed the desires of our group and the parameters that must be met from the University's perspective. Our focus was on implementing a new model for Olympic sports that could allow the existing athletes to stay in place at Iowa and to build something that was sustainable.

It was a good meeting, very honest, transparent and with a substantive discussion that led to a list of assignments. We put together a short vision statement, and then itemized the discussed goals and shared that with the vice president. He then used that information to bring together a few key players from the University.

We will meet with those individuals this week and will have a report for you sometime next week on next steps.

There are three big ways you can help:

  1. Pledge to Donate to help us after we have these sports reinstated. www.savehawkeyesports.com
  2. Sign the Petition at Change.org.
  3. Recruit others to join this effort. We have these meetings because of the number of people who have indicated support AND because of the amount of money pledged so far.

Sincerely,
Mark Kaufman, Athletic Trainer, Class of 1986
Ron Kaminski, Swimming, Class of 1991 
Vickie Nauman, Swimming, Class of 1986
Dave Carpenter, Men's Swimming, Class of 1990
Emma Sougstad, Swimming, Class of 2017
Frannie Malone (DeBord), Swimming, Class of 2000
Ray Benton, Men’s Tennis, Class of 1963
Larry Halpin, Men's Tennis, Class of 1962
Coach Steve Houghton, Men’s Tennis, Class of ’71/Men’s Tennis Coach ’81 – ‘14
Jay Maltby, Men’s Tennis, class of 1990
Jim Nelson, Men's Tennis, Class of 1986
Dan Rustin, Men’s Tennis, Class of 1982
Matt Purdy, Football, Class of 1994
JJ Patton, Swimming, Class of 1993
David Ferke, Swimming, Class of 1990 
Mike Curley, Swimming, Class of 1985
Kim Stevens, Swimming, Class of 1986, Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame, 2016
Keith Gunderson, Swimming, Class of 1994
Mike Buck, Swimming, Class of 1990
Jim Mulligan, Swimming, Class of 1995
Katy Fethke (Ketoff), Diving, Class of 1992
Elliot Ptasnik, Swimming, Class of 2005
Ashley Dell, Swimming, Class of 2009
Andrew DeLashmutt, Swimming, Class of 2009
Erin DeLashmutt, Swimming, Class of 2007
Todd Trappe, Swimming, Class of 1991
Greg Earhart, Executive Director, CSCAA

Support now
Signatures: 24,017Next Goal: 25,000
Support now
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Decision Makers

  • The University of Iowa
  • The University of Iowa Athletic Department