All-Decade Team: Women's Swimming

Williamsburg, KY – Having one of the most consistent programs, the UC Women’s Swimming & Diving team is a namesake in the NAIA.  The Patriots have compiled 21 top-ten finishes, including placing third eight times, at the NAIA National Championships since the program’s inception in 1993. Over the past decade, Cumberlands has recorded six top-five finishes at nationals and has won all eight Mid-South Conference crown since becoming a conference sport in 2013.  In addition to the team’s success, UC has had 9 NAIA Individual national champions, a national championship relay, 2 NAIA Swimmers of the Year, 127 NAIA All-Americans, 7 MSC Swimmers of the Year, and 3 MSC Freshman of the Year. The Patriots' success has come in part of having a slew of talented swimmers & divers that have garnered countless honors at both the conference and national level. With all of these accomplishments, the one swimmer that represents the women’s swimming & diving program on UC’S All-Decade Team is Mendy de Rooi.

De Rooi is the most decorated swimmer in program history as she is one of only five Patriots to earn multiple NAIA National Championships, and the only swimmer to capture three individual national titles at a single championship, which she did twice. For her efforts, de Rooi became UC’s first swimmer to earn NAIA Swimmer of the Year honors and receive the NAIA Swim of the Meet award, which she did at both the 2019 and 2020 NAIA National Championships.  Heading into her senior campaign, de Rooi already holds the program record for most NAIA national titles (7) and most NAIA All-American accolades (24), while etching her name to eight school records, nine Mid-South Conference records, and eight MSC Championship Meet records.  

De Rooi saw success from the moment she stepped foot in Williamsburg, KY hitting multiple national cuts, earning NAIA All-American honors eight times while being a four MSC All-Conference selection.  The freshman put together a solid year culminating at the MSC Championships, where she won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 57.90.  Later that night she was part of UC’s 400 medley relay that took top honors.  She was also part of a pair of Patriot relays that finished runner-up at conference to earn second team all-conference honors. De Rooi followed that up by notching All-American honors in all five relays and her three individual events at the NAIA National Championships.  The Lelystad, Netherlands native touched the wall in 56.27 to earn a runner-up finish in the 100 fly, her best finish of the meet. 

De Rooi came into her sophomore year on a mission helping UC start the year 3-1 in dual meets.  She made her mark at the Magnus Cup Invite when she broke a pair of school records on the same day.  De Rooi broke Charlotte Parent’s 2012 school record by swimming 54.87 in the 100 fly. Later that night, the sophomore led off the 800 free relay with a 1:53.72, which broke the 200 free school record. Mendy continued to be dominant throughout the season and helped the Patriots to their seventh straight MSC crown, winning seven events and breaking six MSC meet records.  De Rooi set new meet records in all three of her individual events while being part of three Patriot relays (800 free, 200 medley, 400 medley) that broke the school record.  For her efforts, de Rooi was named Co-MSC Swimmer of the Year with teammate Christina Klouda. De Rooi capped off her impressive sophomore campaign at the NAIA National Championships, where she recorded the most successful meet in program history.  She opened the meet by winning the 500 free with a time of 4:58.82 for her first career national title. Later that night, de Rooi made program history as she teamed with Christina Klouda, Yuliia Hnidenko, and Katy Smeltzer to become Cumberlands’ first relay team to win a national title as they touch the wall in 3:48.58 in the 400 IM. Mendy touched the wall in 54.41 in the 100 fly for her second individual national title as that swim earned her NAIA Swim of the Meet honors. The sophomore closed out the meet by edging out the competition to win the 100 free (51.45) to become the first Patriot swimmer to win three individual titles and just the second swimmer to win multiple national titles in the same year.  De Rooi was named the NAIA Swimmer of the Year, set seven school records, and was an eight-time NAIA All-American. 

Looking to build on her historic sophomore season, De Rooi didn’t disappoint as she remained a staple atop the NAIA swimming rankings during the 2019-20 season.  After UC started the year 4-0 in dual meets, the Patriots went to the Magnus Cup where De Rooi re-wrote the record book. She brooking the school record in the prelims of the 100 fly with a time of 54.56, before becoming the first Patriot to win an event at the NCAA D1 meet, touching the wall in 54.69 in the finals.  The junior followed that up by leading off the 800 free relay with a 1:52.51 split, which was over a second faster than the previous school record.  De Rooi’s strong season continued at the MSC Championship, where she was a seven-time all-conference selection, six-time conference champion, and set four MSC meet records. De Rooi won the 500 free (5:04.36), 100 fly (54.51), and 100 free (51.43) for her seventh individual conference title, which ranks third in conference history. De Rooi also became the second swimmer in MSC history to win multiple Athlete of the Year honors. The Lelystad, Netherlands native continued her dominance at the NAIA National Championships, where she recorded three individual national titles, posted eight All-American performances, and was the named the NAIA Swimmer of the Year and earned the NAIA Swim of the Meet.  The junior won opened the meet winning the 500 free (4:58.51) to become the first Patriot since Christen Heideman in 2003 & 2004 to successfully defend a national title.  De Rooi won both the 100 fly and 100 free to notch her seventh national title, while her 100 fly time of 53.99 was named NAIA Swim of the Meet.

Over her three-year Patriot career, de Rooi has rewritten both the school and conference record books.  She currently holds eight school records, nine Mid-South Conference records, and eight MSC Championship Meet records.  De Rooi has recorded the most NAIA individual national championships in conference history.  In addition to her success in the water, de Rooi is a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete, two time MSC Academic All-Conference selection, and was named to the 2020 CoSIDA Academic All-District team.

De Rooi is returning to UC for her senior year in 2020-21 and is looking to continue her success in the pool as well as in the classroom.  Mendy is on track to graduate in May 2021 with a degree in Exercise Sport Science. 

The UC All-Decade Team was determined based on stats, awards & honors received, and significance to the program in addition to input for members of the UC Athletic Department. It will include one representative from every sport and be comprised of 29 student-athletes. The all-decade team looked at everything from the 2010-2011 season through the 2019-2020 season.