Track & Field is the most participated sport for women, and second most participated sport for men in the nation for high school. Cross country is also wildly popular, and relatively inexpensive as far as sports go. There are a lot of student athletes aspiring to attend UAA/UAF, and now they will be looking only at lower 48 schools.  Also bear in mind, the university most likely cut the athletic programs with the highest collective GPA of any team at the school.  These were stellar students, not just athletes, and now they will leave your school.