Titan Gymnastics Saved, Coach Says : Fullerton: Dick Wolfe learns fate of men’s team after meeting with school president; fencing program’s future remains unclear.

The Cal State Fullerton men’s gymnastics program will live to see another season, according to Titan Coach Dick Wolfe.

The school is expected to make an official announcement concerning the future of the fencing and men’s gymnastics programs on Monday, but Wolfe learned of his team’s fate during a meeting with Cal State Fullerton President Jewel Plummer Cobb on Friday.

“The program is definitely in place for the future,” Wolfe said. “They’re not dropping men’s gymnastics. That was made very clear to me.”

It was not clear Friday whether the fencing program would be continued. Wolfe said fencing did not come up during his discussion with Cobb, and fencing Coach Heizaburo Okawa had not heard from the president by Friday.

“I don’t know what her decision is,” Okawa said. “Everyone says they’re going to save the program, and lots of people don’t want the program to be cut. It looks good, but I’ll wait until Monday to see for sure.”

It also wasn’t clear Friday whether Wolfe would be back to coach men’s gymnastics for his 23rd season. Wolfe has signed 22 one-year contracts, but he hasn’t come to terms with the school for the 1990-91 season.

“There’s still some negotiating to do,” Wolfe said. “I will meet with (Athletic Director) Ed Carroll early next week to talk about particulars.”

The Athletic Council this past winter had proposed that fencing and men’s gymnastics be cut because of financial difficulties in the athletic department. But last month, Cobb gave the department a few extra weeks to raise the $158,000 necessary to keep the programs afloat.

Carroll wouldn’t say Friday whether the school had reached that goal, but the athletic department has taken several measures, including switching two home football games to away games next fall to increase revenue.

A marketing representative from Disneyland also has said that the amusement park will sponsor an invitational gymnastics meet next winter to benefit the program.

“The president just told me that they had worked very hard to save the program,” Wolfe said. “Our program is in place. As far as the particulars, what the budget will be and my contract will be, those need to be discussed.”