On July 8th, 2020, Stanford University and the Stanford Athletic Department announced that they will be cutting the Varsity Synchronized Swimming program, as well as 10 other varsity sports. This decision is extremely upsetting not only for the athletes currently on the team, but also for former athletes, future athletes, and the entire synchronized swimming community.

Since its inception, Stanford Synchro has been one of the best collegiate synchronized swimming programs in the U.S., winning 8 National Championships and medaling in nearly all events year after year at the Collegiate National Championships. Our program has produced 8 Olympians, and many of our athletes have competed on the Senior National Team for the United States and Canada. Stanford Synchro student-athletes consistently exemplify academic excellence and leadership on campus and continue to be advocates for the sport long after they've left the Farm. In fact, all of the current athlete representatives on the USA Artistic Swimming Board of Directors are Stanford Synchro alumni.

Because Stanford Synchro has been instrumental in growing the sport of synchronized swimming in the U.S., the ripple effects of this devastating decision will extend far beyond the Farm. Our program has garnered national and international recognition for developing some of the strongest athletes in this country. Every year there are more and more young athletes who express interest in studying at Stanford and being a part of this program. All across the country, synchro swimmers as young as ten years old are making it their goal to compete for the Cardinal. Taking away the Stanford dream from these young athletes would be devastating.

Every other collegiate synchro program will suffer if there is no Stanford Synchro. Developmental clubs in the U.S. will feel this impact as well, as they risk losing participants due to a lack of opportunities to compete in college. 

None of the 11 impacted sports had a chance to fight for their programs before the verdict was announced, which is both devastating and unreasonable. Even though the decision was announced as "final," all 11 sports have been active in an effort to get answers and explore options for reinstating these programs.

The Stanford Synchro student-athletes and alumni are committed to making our voices heard to the Stanford University President, Provost, and Director of Athletics. We ask you to please sign this petition to help us show the value and importance of reinstating the Stanford Synchro varsity program.

Please share this petition with the greater synchro community around the world. We greatly appreciate your support and hope that together, our united voice will make a difference.