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Hawkeyes protest tennis program being cut by refusing to wear team colors
Updated: 6:30 PM CST Feb 26, 2021
Beau Bowman
TO SIGN THIS BILL INTO LAW. WELL, THEY ARE REFUSING TO WEAR THE BLACK AND GOLD THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA MEN'S TENNIS TEAM IS PROTESTING THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT'S DECISION TO CUT THEIR PROGRAM. THE TENNIS TEAM IS NOW IN THEIR FINAL SEASON. YEAH, STEVE COVID-19 LED TO THE BUDGET CUT NEW AT SIX KCC. BOBO AND TALK WITH THE ATHLETES ABOUT WHAT THEY HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH. YOU KNOW WHILST WE WEREN'T OVERLY HAPPY WITH THE DECISION. IT'S BEEN MADE. THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT. WILL DAVIES A SENIOR ON THE IOWA MEN'S TENNIS TEAM IS ONE OF THE FEW WHO WILL FINISH HIS COLLEGIATE CAREER AS A HAWKEYE UNLIKE HIS TEAMMATE NIKITA SNESKO A JUNIOR WHO IS TRANSFERRING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA AFTER THE IOWA ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT. ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD BE CUTTING THE TENNIS TEAM AT THE END OF THIS SEASON DUE TO BUDGET CUTS BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC. IT'S BEEN OBVIOUSLY CHALLENGING BUT I MEAN JUST LOOKING AT THE FUTURE AND I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE A SEASON TO GO. AND JUST ENJOY THE LOST RIDE OPENING TO A NO IN BIG TEN PLAY THEIR FINAL SEASON IS OFF TO A RED HOT START, BUT THAT'S NOT WHY THEY'RE WEARING THESE RED SHIRTS INSTEAD OF BLACK AND GOLD THE TEAM HAS DONE EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GET THE ATTENTION OF ATHLETIC DIRECTOR GARY BARDA HOPING HE COULD REINSTATE THE PROGRAM. IT'S NOT MUCH MORE THAT WE CAN DO. WE TRIED OUR BEST GATHERING A PETITION WITH MORE THAN 3500 SIGNATURES AND WEARING RED TO DEMONSTRATE THEIR TEAM'S UNITY GOES BEYOND THE CONFINES OF THE UNIVERSITY KCCI REACHED OUT TO THE ATHLET. DEPARTMENT BARBARA BERWICK DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS RELEASED A STATEMENT READING IN PART. WE CERTAINLY HAVE EMPATHY FOR OUR STUDENT ATHLETES. WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THEM TO ENSURE THEY HAVE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE THIS YEAR MAKE DECISIONS FOR THE FUTURE AND CONTINUE THEIR ACADEMIC PROGRESS AS FOR DAVIES AND SHESCO. ALL THEY CAN DO IS ENJOY WHAT THEY'RE CALLING THE LAST RIDE WITH THEIR TEAMMATES BEFORE THE UNIVERSITY CLOSES THE BOOK ON THE IOWA MEN'S TENNIS TEAM FOR GOOD. I'M GLAD THAT WE HAVE A SEASON TO GO. AND JUST ENJOY THE LAST RIDE WITH ME AND TEAMMATES AND THE COACHES AND IS DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE THESE LAST COUPLE MONTHS WORTH IT AND JUST HOPING FOR A GOOD ENDING. WELL BOWMAN, KCCI EIGHT NEWS I WAS NEWS LEADER. THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT CUT FOR SPORTS. HOPING TO SAVE 5 MILLION DOLLARS WHEN THEIR BUDGET TOOK A BIG HIT DURING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC SINCE THEN ONLY ONE TEAM WOMEN SWIMMING AND DIVING HAS BEEN REINSTATED AFTER FOUR ATHLETES SUED THE UNIVERSITY CLAIMING THE SCHOOL VIOLATED TITLE NINE. THE UNIVERSITY WILL HONOR THE SCHOLARSHIPS
The University of Iowa's men's tennis team is protesting the decision to cut their program which is now in its final season. "You know, while we weren't overly happy with the decision being made, there's nothing we can do about it now," said Will Davies, a senior on the men's tennis team. Davies is one of the few who will finish his collegiate career as a Hawkeye. His teammate Nikita Snezhko, a junior, is transferring to the University of North Dakota after the Iowa Athletic Department announced they would be cutting the tennis team at the end of this season due to budget cuts brought on by the pandemic. "It's been obviously challenging, but I mean, just looking at the future. And I'm glad that we have a season to go with and just enjoy the last ride," Snezhko said. Opening 2-0 in the Big Ten, their final season is off to a red-hot start. But that's not why they're wearing red shirts instead of black and gold. The team has done everything they can to get the attention of athletic director Gary Barta hoping he could reinstate the program."And yeah, I mean there's not much more that we can do. We tried our best," Davies said. Gathering a petition with more than 3,500 signatures to save the team and wearing red to demonstrate their team's unity goes beyond the confines of the university. KCCI contacted the athletic department. Barbara Burke, deputy director of athletics, released a statement that said in part, "We certainly have empathy for our student-athletes. We will continue to support and communicate with them to ensure they have every opportunity to compete this year, make decisions for the future, and continue their academic progress."As for Davies and Snezhko, all they can do is enjoy what they're calling "the last ride."The University of Iowa Athletic Department cut four sports hoping to save $5 million when their budget took a big hit during the pandemic. Since then, only one team, women's swimming and diving, has been reinstated after four athletes sued the university claiming they violated Title IX. The university will honor the scholarships of the athletes who do not decide to transfer.
IOWA CITY, Iowa —
The University of Iowa's men's tennis team is protesting the decision to cut their program which is now in its final season.
"You know, while we weren't overly happy with the decision being made, there's nothing we can do about it now," said Will Davies, a senior on the men's tennis team.
Davies is one of the few who will finish his collegiate career as a Hawkeye.
His teammate Nikita Snezhko, a junior, is transferring to the University of North Dakota after the Iowa Athletic Department announced they would be cutting the tennis team at the end of this season due to budget cuts brought on by the pandemic.
"It's been obviously challenging, but I mean, just looking at the future. And I'm glad that we have a season to go with and just enjoy the last ride," Snezhko said.
Opening 2-0 in the Big Ten, their final season is off to a red-hot start. But that's not why they're wearing red shirts instead of black and gold.
The team has done everything they can to get the attention of athletic director Gary Barta hoping he could reinstate the program.
"And yeah, I mean there's not much more that we can do. We tried our best," Davies said.
Gathering a petition with more than 3,500 signatures to save the team and wearing red to demonstrate their team's unity goes beyond the confines of the university.
KCCI contacted the athletic department. Barbara Burke, deputy director of athletics, released a statement that said in part, "We certainly have empathy for our student-athletes. We will continue to support and communicate with them to ensure they have every opportunity to compete this year, make decisions for the future, and continue their academic progress."
As for Davies and Snezhko, all they can do is enjoy what they're calling "the last ride."
The University of Iowa Athletic Department cut four sports hoping to save $5 million when their budget took a big hit during the pandemic.
Since then, only one team, women's swimming and diving, has been reinstated after four athletes sued the university claiming they violated Title IX.
The university will honor the scholarships of the athletes who do not decide to transfer.
KCCI Des Moines
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