Mar 8, 2010 8:34:57 AM

Wheaton (Illinois) reinstated three of five sports that it planned to discontinue this year after a group of donors decided to fund men's and women's golf and men's tennis.

The reversal came just three days after the school announced discontinuation of those sports, along with men's indoor track and women's water polo. The school announced that the golf and tennis programs will be sponsored through at least the 2013-14 school year.

"This support will allow the college a window of opportunity to search out longer-term funding for these programs," said Athletics Director Tony Ladd. "It also allows our current athletes to continue playing their sports throughout their Wheaton careers."

Wheaton President Duane Liftin expressed gratitude for the donor support.

"This extraordinary response affirms the value of these programs in the lives of our student-athletes," he said.

Wheaton currently sponsors 22 varsity sports. College officials cited financial reasons March 2 for its decision to discontinue the five sports.