Splashcat Michelle Meyer had to get Richard Simmons off her mind during her cross-country flight to nationals yesterday.

The Arizona synchronized swimmer had to think about putting together her uniform rather than mastering her routine to the tune of the fitness promoter's 1980s aerobics medley.

That's because Meyer was forced to replace her swimsuit after it was stolen out of her coach's car last weekend in Phoenix ‹ just one example of the kinds of problems a club sports athlete faces.

One of 40 club sports teams at the University of Arizona, the synchronized swimming team is not the only one that has met hardship along the road of sports competition. Others agree that being in a club sport is expensive and consumes massive amounts of time.

"A club sport is a student-run, student-generated team that functions under the administrative umbrella of Campus Rec," said Mary O'Mahoney, program coordinator for the Student Recreation Center.

Club sports teams have been around on the UA campus for more than two decades, and some teams have advanced to varsity status. Juggling school, work, fund raising and rigorous practice schedules, students involved in club sports have a lot on their plates. But despite the adversity many students say they face as club athletes, one trend seems to hold these teams together: a deep appreciation for the game.

Filling the cash pot

Because most club sports get little funding from the university, club athletes must pay for their own play, epitomizing them as poor college students.

The university does chip in some money, but the large number of club sports on campus means that each sport only gets a small portion of the pot.

"We consider club sports just as important as any other club on campus," said Sam Chang, executive vice president of the Associated Students of the University of Arizona. "Every year, we have the option to give (club sports teams) anywhere from zero to $15,000, and since we know that they are such a vital part to our school, we chose to give them the full amount."

The recreation center matches that $15,000, which totals $30,000 each year.

However, if that money was hypothetically distributed equally to each team ‹ the Icecats, the men's ice hockey team, is the only team that does not ask for money ‹ each club sport would receive an average of only $769.

"The average club, such as the big-ticket clubs, gets $3,000. It helps, but it doesn't cover it. All the clubs' budgets put together reach more than half a million dollars," said O'Mahoney, who has been involved with campus activities since 1989.

Recently, UA students approved an optional $3 activity fee for the Student Recreation Center by a 2-1 margin in the ASUA general election. With the final approval of the fee by the Arizona Board of Regents expected later this month, the recreation center's contribution to club sports could increase anywhere from $60,000 to $85,000. ASUA would then no longer contribute to the teams.

That means teams are primarily responsible for making their own money.

"Fund raising is the key," said senior Splashcat Meggie Clarke.

And fund raise the team does. The Splashcats have participated in everything from raffle fund-raiser,s to passing out bags full of advertisements, to working the grills at Tucson Electric Park and holding the Master's National Meet in October, which featured older synchronized swimmers.

In the case of the Splashcats, the team's plane tickets to nationals in Boston cost $400. The team has also had to raise money for transportation to and from meets as well as money for hotel rooms, food and meet entry fees.

The women's lacrosse team also participates in its fair share of fund raising. Junior defenseman Betsy Rodah said the team has to raise enough money to travel to compete in California every other weekend.

"We just love the sport so much that a lot of (the money) comes out of our own pockets," said Rodah, who also serves as the team's president.

	MATT HEISTAND/Arizona Daily Wildcat From left: Julia Klein, Jeannie Studer and Michelle Meyer, members of the UA synchronized swimming A team, use the underwater support school method to move beneath the surface so their legs move gracefully above the water.

Lower status and less recognition

Sewing glittery sequins onto their own costumes is something most NCAA synchronized swimmers have never had to do.

But because her suit was stolen, Meyer has had to do just that. In the past, synchronized swimming teams have not had to worry about replacing stolen uniforms, because those teams were at the varsity level ‹ meaning more funding and more resources.

The synchronized swimming club was once a varsity sport. In 1980, 1981 and 1984, the team won the NCAA championships ‹ the second, fourth and fifth in Arizona history.

Unfortunately for the Splashcats, they were unable to win another NCAA Championship because, after the 1984 season, the team was demoted to club status for financial reasons. But even though the Splashcats are no longer an NCAA team, the success of the program has not diminished.

The team, which is currently four years old after taking a two-year hiatus from competing, is ranked No. 12 in the country and currently has two teams ‹ an A team and a B team with a total of 12 swimmers.

"I started this team four years ago with only four novice swimmers," said head coach Jill Ranucci, who is also a member of U.S. Synchro. "So in four years, to build a team to the level we are right now is an amazing testament to the girls."

There are other reasons besides devotion to the game that keep the players going.

"I think every club sport has that pipe dream," said Skip Greenburgh, assistant coach and club director for the men's volleyball team. "It's always been a goal for us to be a varsity program."

Even if men's volleyball going varsity is a near impossiblity because of the gender equity agreement Title IX, Greenburgh said the team will still strive for it.

"Would we like to be? Yes." he said. "We want to parallel ourselves to a Division I team."

Loving the game

With all the fees, a lack of recognition and the time put in to playing club sports, the question remains: Why do they do it?

"I do it for the love of synchro," sophomore Lisa Varrie said. "In my two years here, I have met so many lifelong friends."

Varrie is one of the fortunate members of the team who does not have to worry about balancing swimming, school and a job.

Others, such as Clarke, have had to juggle all three.

"Since I joined the team three years ago, my grades have gone up from a 3.0 to a 3.6," Clarke said. "It really helps me balance my time."

Paying tribute to a game he has played since 1959, Steve Carlat, head coach of the men's club volleyball team, has coached various volleyball teams for 22 years ‹ four of which he has devoted to the UA men's team.

"There's certain things in one's life that open doors to personal growth," he said. "There's lots of keys to those doors, and my experience says to give back."