Boise State University announced last week that it’s eliminating baseball, and its swimming and diving programs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Many student athletes, alumni, and community members are devastated to hear the news.
“I think it’s completely unacceptable, the coaches, the staff and players deserve better. Both these programs deserve better,” said Amaia Van Tol, daughter of BSU baseball’s head coach.
CBS2 reports Van Tol decided to take matters into her own hands and create a gofund me page.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-boise-state-baseball?utm_medium=sms&utm_source=product&utm_campaign=p_susi-sms-welcome
“All donations will be refunded if not successful. That’s why people are willing to donate. That’s why people are donating because they know that if successful it will be used. Or they will receive that back,” said Van Tol.
Gavin Gorrell, a player on the BSU baseball team told CBS2, “we’re doing everything possible to raise money. The only reason we were given is financial. We will try our best to be back playing in orange and blue for the people of Boise.”
Alumni and members of the Boise State swim and dive team set up something similar. A google doc where supporters can pledge money.
They say that if the program ends up being eliminated, it will be a huge loss for the university as a whole.
“When you look at the types of women you want your society to have, Boise State really brought those women into the community. Not just for BSU, but for Boise as a whole,” said Megan Myers, a former BSU swimmer.
Fellow alumni and BSU swimmers, Ally Kleinsorgen and Emily Mathis said, “this program is so much more than a team, it is a sisterhood of really strong resilient women and I would hate for future broncos to not experience what we got to experience.”
Dr. Marlene Tromp, President of BSU said it was a difficult decision. “The university had already been working closely with athletics to create a sustainable budget. The pandemic has made a challenging financial situation unsustainable.”
