100 Days
San Luis Obispo, California | Film Short
Documentary, Sport
Hundreds of college sports programs have been cut and thousands of more are on the chopping block. "100 Days" is about the Cal Poly swim and dive team that had to raise $25 million in 100 days to save their program. Our film dives into this story and the broader issues at play for college athletics.
100 Days
San Luis Obispo, California | Film Short
Documentary, Sport
1 Campaigns | Georgia, United States
16 supporters | followers
Enter the amount you would like to pledge
$1,501
Goal: $11,800 for production
Hundreds of college sports programs have been cut and thousands of more are on the chopping block. "100 Days" is about the Cal Poly swim and dive team that had to raise $25 million in 100 days to save their program. Our film dives into this story and the broader issues at play for college athletics.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
This project is fiscally sponsored by From the Heart Productions.
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5:00 AM on March 7, 2025, swimmers across the country woke up for morning practice. No matter the time zone, 5 AM means the same thing: a quick snack, a suit in a bag, and a drive to the pool. By 5:59 AM, swimmers fill all eight lanes and dive in almost perfectly in sync. But at Cal Poly, the pool stayed still. Instead of practice, the swim and dive team sat in a meeting that would end their program, effective immediately. The reason traced back to a single court case that would reshape college athletics: House vs. NCAA.
House vs. NCAA is an antitrust case filed by Grant House and other athletes, arguing that past players were denied pension while the NCAA profited from their performances. The NCAA settled for billions of dollars, allowing schools to directly pay athletes moving forward. But that money has to come from somewhere. Schools can now distribute millions to athletes, but for non-revenue sports, this impact is devastating: roster limits cut opportunities for thousands of athletes, scholarships disappear, and entire programs are eliminated.
100 Days follows Kim as she retraces the journey, from building a team to losing it to having less than a hundred days to fight for it. As we follow her story of trying to make sense of how something so successful could disappear overnight, we meet her swimmers back together at the pool they once called home and introduce the athletic department who seemed to only have one choice to make.
Unable to reach the goal they were given by the athletic department, the swim team at Cal Poly was cut. The pool that once housed Olympic trialists, division winners, and record holders now sits there without a team. Cal Poly is not an isolated case, it’s the beginning. Across the country, sports like swimming, tennis, track, and gymnastics are at risk. Our film seeks to highlight this story to bring awareness to these programs in trouble so athletes around the country don’t have to lose the one thing they love.
.jpg)
Not only was I a swimmer in my undergraduate, but I also know what it's like to have my program taken from me. In 2020, the Athletic Director at William and Mary decided it was best to cut seven teams from the school to save costs due to COVID-19. The swim team, my team, was one of the sports programs cut. I lost everything I had been working years for and it was taken away in an instant. Everything I knew about who I was changed and I had to make a choice to either fight for what I love at this school and risk not getting my team back, or find another way to continue to chase my passion and leave behind a team that became my home.
There are no words to fully describe the moment when someone says "we're cutting your team". I was fortunate enough to have amazing alumni that helped bring back the program within a few months. Other teams are not as lucky. That's why I have to share this one. Losing the one thing you've put blood sweat and tears into for 20 hours a week nonstop for years on end... that is a devastating impact. It's not just a sport, but a passion and love that people put hours of dedication into and it's at risk with non revenue based sports across the country.
That's why I want to tell this story. I understand what it's like to lose your program and I know what it's like to put everything into the sport you love. I want to share Cal Poly's story and ask people to not let this happen to other schools in the country. Hundreds of thousands of D1 athletes are at risk of losing something they love. As someone who owes so much to my sport and the team I had, I don't want to see people lose either of those aspects because of a decision they had no say in.
-3.jpg)
The settlement is forcing many non-revenue sports, beyond just college swimming, to be cut. Something that was intended to help, is destroying so many athletes' dreams. House vs NCAA does not only affect the current athletes, but it will trickle down from the D1 level into the lower divisions. High School athletes promised roster spots might have them taken away due to the smaller roster caps for teams. Teams that are cut will have athletes join masters or club teams, changing the landscape of those worlds. People need to talk about this because Cal Poly is one case of many.
This story has already been told to many and our team is backed by a fantastic group of people. Our fiscal sponsor, From the Heart Productions, has been helping us get ready for production as well as a fantastic group of professors, friends, and family. But we need more help... your help.
With your help, our small crew will be able to fly to California, rent the appropriate gear, and be able to travel around San Luis Obispo. Our plan is to be there and film this August 2026 to meet with Kim Carlson as well as the others involved in the story from the area. Our goal is to raise $11,800 to cover the costs of our crew being able to capture this story and distribute it to audiences across the country by summer of 2027.
Any donation would be appreciated. We are asking not just athletes, but coaches, alumni, parents, siblings, and sports lovers in general to help share Cal Poly's story to a wide audience. My goal is to get people talking because as both a filmmaker and athlete, I don't want to see any other program face this.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Plane Tickets
Costs $2,500
Our crew is based in Atlanta and needs help traveling across the country with our gear!
Distribution
Costs $1,200
Film festivals have fees to apply! Having this cost covered allows us the ability to apply to festivals all across the country!
Transport
Costs $1,900
We need cars for transporting gear and the crew through San Luis Obispo to reach our locations!
Feeding Crew
Costs $2,000
While we're in San Luis Obispo, we need to make sure we can feed our crew throughout production with meals and crafty!
Archival Materials
Costs $1,200
We'll need funds for licensing archival images and videos for post!
Gear
Costs $3,000
We need to rent gear in California or in Atlanta! We'll need lights, cameras, c-stands, and sound equipment to make this work!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
-3.jpg)
Director and Producer: Katherine Vanbourgondien is an alumni from William and Mary who is currently pursuing a graduate degree at SCAD for filmmaking. A swimmer in college, she's decided to combine her passion of her sport into her passion of filmmaking. Her narrative and documentary work explores the passion of athletes and the grit and determination behind the work they put in.
Editor and Co-Producer: John Wagner is an editor from Johns Creek, Georgia. He is currently in graduate school at SCAD Atlanta working on his MFA. He started editing on Windows Movie Maker, and has now been editing for over a decade. Recently he helped edit a marketing video for Make a Wish Georgia.
Director of Photography: Theo Braddock is a Director of Photography from Washington, DC in his senior year at SCAD Atlanta. For the past four years, he’s used his eye for composition and lighting for everything from award-winning short films to documentaries and branded content. When he’s got time on his hands, he enjoys playing music, and sports, always finding ways to combine photography with his love for both.
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
This project is fiscally sponsored by From the Heart Productions.
5:00 AM on March 7, 2025, swimmers across the country woke up for morning practice. No matter the time zone, 5 AM means the same thing: a quick snack, a suit in a bag, and a drive to the pool. By 5:59 AM, swimmers fill all eight lanes and dive in almost perfectly in sync. But at Cal Poly, the pool stayed still. Instead of practice, the swim and dive team sat in a meeting that would end their program, effective immediately. The reason traced back to a single court case that would reshape college athletics: House vs. NCAA.
House vs. NCAA is an antitrust case filed by Grant House and other athletes, arguing that past players were denied pension while the NCAA profited from their performances. The NCAA settled for billions of dollars, allowing schools to directly pay athletes moving forward. But that money has to come from somewhere. Schools can now distribute millions to athletes, but for non-revenue sports, this impact is devastating: roster limits cut opportunities for thousands of athletes, scholarships disappear, and entire programs are eliminated.
100 Days follows Kim as she retraces the journey, from building a team to losing it to having less than a hundred days to fight for it. As we follow her story of trying to make sense of how something so successful could disappear overnight, we meet her swimmers back together at the pool they once called home and introduce the athletic department who seemed to only have one choice to make.
Unable to reach the goal they were given by the athletic department, the swim team at Cal Poly was cut. The pool that once housed Olympic trialists, division winners, and record holders now sits there without a team. Cal Poly is not an isolated case, it’s the beginning. Across the country, sports like swimming, tennis, track, and gymnastics are at risk. Our film seeks to highlight this story to bring awareness to these programs in trouble so athletes around the country don’t have to lose the one thing they love.
Not only was I a swimmer in my undergraduate, but I also know what it's like to have my program taken from me. In 2020, the Athletic Director at William and Mary decided it was best to cut seven teams from the school to save costs due to COVID-19. The swim team, my team, was one of the sports programs cut. I lost everything I had been working years for and it was taken away in an instant. Everything I knew about who I was changed and I had to make a choice to either fight for what I love at this school and risk not getting my team back, or find another way to continue to chase my passion and leave behind a team that became my home.
There are no words to fully describe the moment when someone says "we're cutting your team". I was fortunate enough to have amazing alumni that helped bring back the program within a few months. Other teams are not as lucky. That's why I have to share this one. Losing the one thing you've put blood sweat and tears into for 20 hours a week nonstop for years on end... that is a devastating impact. It's not just a sport, but a passion and love that people put hours of dedication into and it's at risk with non revenue based sports across the country.
That's why I want to tell this story. I understand what it's like to lose your program and I know what it's like to put everything into the sport you love. I want to share Cal Poly's story and ask people to not let this happen to other schools in the country. Hundreds of thousands of D1 athletes are at risk of losing something they love. As someone who owes so much to my sport and the team I had, I don't want to see people lose either of those aspects because of a decision they had no say in.
The settlement is forcing many non-revenue sports, beyond just college swimming, to be cut. Something that was intended to help, is destroying so many athletes' dreams. House vs NCAA does not only affect the current athletes, but it will trickle down from the D1 level into the lower divisions. High School athletes promised roster spots might have them taken away due to the smaller roster caps for teams. Teams that are cut will have athletes join masters or club teams, changing the landscape of those worlds. People need to talk about this because Cal Poly is one case of many.
This story has already been told to many and our team is backed by a fantastic group of people. Our fiscal sponsor, From the Heart Productions, has been helping us get ready for production as well as a fantastic group of professors, friends, and family. But we need more help... your help.
With your help, our small crew will be able to fly to California, rent the appropriate gear, and be able to travel around San Luis Obispo. Our plan is to be there and film this August 2026 to meet with Kim Carlson as well as the others involved in the story from the area. Our goal is to raise $11,800 to cover the costs of our crew being able to capture this story and distribute it to audiences across the country by summer of 2027.
Any donation would be appreciated. We are asking not just athletes, but coaches, alumni, parents, siblings, and sports lovers in general to help share Cal Poly's story to a wide audience. My goal is to get people talking because as both a filmmaker and athlete, I don't want to see any other program face this.
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Plane Tickets
Costs $2,500
Our crew is based in Atlanta and needs help traveling across the country with our gear!
Distribution
Costs $1,200
Film festivals have fees to apply! Having this cost covered allows us the ability to apply to festivals all across the country!
Transport
Costs $1,900
We need cars for transporting gear and the crew through San Luis Obispo to reach our locations!
Feeding Crew
Costs $2,000
While we're in San Luis Obispo, we need to make sure we can feed our crew throughout production with meals and crafty!
Archival Materials
Costs $1,200
We'll need funds for licensing archival images and videos for post!
Gear
Costs $3,000
We need to rent gear in California or in Atlanta! We'll need lights, cameras, c-stands, and sound equipment to make this work!
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Director and Producer: Katherine Vanbourgondien is an alumni from William and Mary who is currently pursuing a graduate degree at SCAD for filmmaking. A swimmer in college, she's decided to combine her passion of her sport into her passion of filmmaking. Her narrative and documentary work explores the passion of athletes and the grit and determination behind the work they put in.
Editor and Co-Producer: John Wagner is an editor from Johns Creek, Georgia. He is currently in graduate school at SCAD Atlanta working on his MFA. He started editing on Windows Movie Maker, and has now been editing for over a decade. Recently he helped edit a marketing video for Make a Wish Georgia.
Director of Photography: Theo Braddock is a Director of Photography from Washington, DC in his senior year at SCAD Atlanta. For the past four years, he’s used his eye for composition and lighting for everything from award-winning short films to documentaries and branded content. When he’s got time on his hands, he enjoys playing music, and sports, always finding ways to combine photography with his love for both.