All-Decade Team: Men's Swimming & Diving

By Sports Information

6/19/2020 11:00:00 AM

Williamsburg, KY – Having one of the most consistent programs, the UC Men’s Swimming & Diving team is a namesake in the NAIA. The Patriots have compiled 23 straight top-ten finishes, including placing fourth four times, at the NAIA National Championships since the program’s inception in 1993. Over the past decade, Cumberlands has recorded three top-five finishes at nationals and has won five Mid-South Conference titles since it became a conference sport in 2013. In addition to the team’s success, UC has had 15 NAIA Individual national champions, 118 NAIA All-Americans, an MSC Swimmers of the Year, and an 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 athlete that represents the men’s swimming & diving program on UC’S All-Decade Team is Dave Groh.

Groh is one of the most decorated athletes in program history and is the most decorated diver to compete at UC. He is one of only four Patriots to win an NAIA title and one of just three Patriots to win multiple national championships in the same season, which he did in 2018. For his efforts, Groh completed his career as a six-time NAIA All-American, the 2018 NAIA Diver of the Year, and is currently ranked fourth in program history for CSCAA All-American honors with six. In addition to his success on the board, Groh went on to be named the 2019 NAIA Diving Coach of the Year.

“I am very honored to be named in the All-Decade Team for Men’s Swimming and Diving. At first, I was just grateful that Coach Eric Skelly and Coach Meg Cunningham gave me the opportunity to be a part of the team. I never thought it would develop into the career it did, and I had nothing but positive memories and experiences with my coaches and teammates along the way. I truly cannot express how grateful I am for my athletic career at UC and being named as part of the All-Decade Team.”

- Dave Groh

Groh transferred to Cumberlands as a red-shirt freshman in 2014 to play baseball for the Patriots. After his first year in Williamsburg, Groh joined the Patriots swimming & diving team during the 2015-2016 season. After a successful regular season where Groh competed in three meets, he went to the MSC Championships where he place first on both the one-meter and three-meter board. David capped off his first season at the NAIA Championships where he finished runner-up in both the one-meter and three-meter events to earn All-American honors. Groh tallied a school-record score of 235.10 in the prelims of three-meter diving at the championships.

“Dave is one of a kind. As talented as any athlete I have known. Balancing two sports at the collegiate level is an amazing accomplishment. He continually focused on becoming better on the boards and represented UC incredibly in his time here. He left an incredible mark on this program."

- Head Coach Eric Skelly

Groh had a breakout season in his junior year as he scored at least 200 points in all five meets he competed in. The Temecula, CA native opened the season in record-setting fashion as he notched a score of 238.20 on the one-meter board against Asbury. Not only did that score earn a first-place finish it also set a program record, which still stands today. Groh competed in two more dual meets before earning MSC First Team All-Conference honors in both the one-meter (238.05) and three-meter (223.00) events at the conference championships. At the NAIA National Championships, the junior finished runner-up on the one-meter board before placing third on three-meter to earn All-American honors in both events.

“To me, playing sports and attending UC meant becoming part of the UC family. I made lifelong friends from all over the world, furthering my education, and finding a home away from home. I am very grateful that Brad Shelton gave me the opportunity to play baseball, to get me to move to Kentucky in the first place, and for all the opportunities that followed throughout my time at UC.”

- Dave Groh

In his senior season, Groh competed in six meets and earned a pair of first-team all-conference honors. He is currently ranked tied for second in the MSC with six individual championships and is one of three student-athletes to win an event at the MSC Championship three times. In addition to the success on the conference level, Groh reached the pinnacle of diving as he captured the NAIA national title in both the one-meter and three-meter events and was named the 2018 NAIA Diver of the Year.

Groh graduated from UC in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and went on to obtain his Masters in Business Administration a year later. While serving as a graduate assistant during the 2018-2019 season, Groh coach Thomas Crawford to a national title in the one-meter event and was named the CSCAA NAIA Diving Coach of the Year. He is currently living in San Diego, CA with his girlfriend and works for Gosite, a software company.

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.