Schools
Laughing in the Face of Defeat
The University of Maryland women's water polo team fights to stay on campus.
The threat of being cut from the athletic department is no laughing matter, but on Thursday night members of the women’s water polo team—which could face that future—used comedy to brighten the mood and help raise money to save their team.
Co-captains Christine Goetsch and Shelby Reyes helped plan the event to bring in some of the $4.2 million needed to save their team by June 30, 2012.
“We picked a comedy show because we thought it would be a fun, great way to get the students involved in helping to save our sport,” Goetsch wrote in an e-mail. She also hopes it will raise awareness about .
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The university informed eight teams in November that their unless they raise eight years of operating budget funds. The water polo and the teams were instructed to work together by this summer. The eight years of funds also ensures that freshman, sophomore, junior and senior athletes have a chance to play all four years of college.
“I think any time you lose a Division 1 sport, it hurts the athletic program,” said freshman Matthew Williams. He feared $4.2 million would be tough to raise, “but you never know.”
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Williams was one of about 90 who showed up for the comedy show on Thursday.
The show featured comedians Alex Scott, Nema Williams and Adam Dodd. Williams and Scott have been featured on BET and other well-known comedy venues. Dodd is nationally known for his quick wit and exuberant performance.
Shawn Mazzarone, a Maryland junior on the wrestling team, opened the show, which was held in a small Comcast Center pavilion.
The team will receive all proceeds from Thursday’s show, one of a handful of Save Maryland Water Polo fundraisers. The team also hosted a night at Looney’s Pub in January, when the team received 15 percent of customers’ bills.
Reyes said the process of fundraising has been stressful.
“Raising money [has] definitely been a challenge because normally this time of year is dedicated to school and playing our best since we're in season,” Reyes wrote in an e-mail.
“But the fact that it's for something that means so much to all of us makes the difference. We are more than just a team; we're a family.”