News broke Thursday that the men’s and women’s swimming programs at Syracuse University are to be eliminated at the completion of the 2007-08 season, in favor of the formation of a women’s ice hockey team.

The teams have created an online petition to aid in the fight to save their programs. If you would like to lend your support (and you should), you can sign their petition here.

First of all, no, we’re not going. Just had to put that out there. Even though my family does own a house outside of Charlotte that would be oh-so-perfect, we will not be attending this meet. And not just because Club Wolverine won’t be there. We’ve had our summer meets planned out for months and UltraSwim was never one of them. We’ll be hittin’ up Santa Clara next, mmk?

Anyway, for those of you interested, the psych sheet for UltraSwim is out. Its missing a large number of the National Teamers it attracted last year and that is because it directly conflicts with the 2007 Mare Nostrum Meet.

However, those attending can still expect some familiar names such as Gary Hall Jr., Ryk Neethling, Cesar Cielo, Amanda Weir, Mary Descenza, Eric Shanteau, Mark Gangloff, Scott Usher, Caitlin Leverenz, Ava Ohlgren, Doug Van Wie, Giordan Pogioli, Alicia Aemisegger, and more! (BTW, it should be noted that Cullen Jones and Maritza Correia also appear on the psych sheet, but will be in France, during UltraSwim, competing at the Canet stop of Mare Nostrum)

The 2007 UltraSwim meet gets underway next Thursday (June 7) and continues until the 10th in Charlotte, NC. More information can be found on the Mecklenburg Aquatic Club website here.