Athletes Raise Money to Rescue Programs

The men’s soccer and women’s swimming and diving programs at Fresno State have avoided elimination after athletes raised more than $700,000 to save their teams.

Athletic Director Scott Johnson said last month that the department would cut the men’s soccer, cross-country and indoor track and field programs and the women’s swim and dive programs next semester in an effort to save $557,000.

By Thursday, a newly formed organization to save the teams, the Valley Soccer Foundation, raised $705,000 in cash and pledges, more than the $680,000 required to operate both programs for a year.