n 2007 Drury became the first school in NCAA-II history to twice win both the men's and women's titles at the same national meet. The Drury teams previously accomplished that feat in 1999. The 2007 Drury women’s team title also snapped Truman State’s hold on the NCAA-II national title. The Drury women had finished second to Truman six years in a row...until 2007. With the 2007 team title the Panther women began a run of their own by winning six national championships in the next eight years. One of the reasons Drury established its dominance was Cara Fadel.
A state record holder in her native state of Idaho, Cara embodied the tradition of the swimming program and the Drury athletic program: the student-athlete. She graduated from high school with a 3.98 grade point average and she continued her dual success as a student-athlete, excelling in both academics and athletics throughout her four years at Drury. An exercise and sport science major (special program exercise physiology) and global studies minor, Cara graduated with honors (cum laude/3.73 gpa.) from Drury on May 12, 2007. Cara epitomized what is meant to be a Drury student-athlete. Her academic success was mirrored by her athletic success.
When reflecting on the career of Cara it is worth noting that the most times an individual can earn All-America honors in a single season is seven. A swimmer can compete in a maximum of four individual events and three relay events. In her first year at Drury Cara earned NCAA-II All-America honors a total of seven times and she repeated that accomplishment each of the following three years. She was a 28-time NCAA-II All-American. You cannot do better than that.
As mentioned, in her first three years the Panthers finished second in the nation. But in 2007 it all came together for the Panthers as a team, and for Cara individually. Comments from Panther head coach Brian Reynolds, who was named the NCAA-II National Women’s Coach of the Year in 2007, sets the stage for his multi-talented performer from Boise, Idaho. “Cara was another example of a swimmer who developed so much, and in a variety of events. She came to Drury primarily a backstroke specialist, a one event swimmer. But Cara worked and ultimately became one of our top peformers in other events, including the 200 IM and the 400 IM. She even took on the 1,000 freestyle her senior year,” Reynolds concluded. It is worth noting that last comment.
At the 2007 NCAA-II Swimming/Diving Championships held in Buffalo, New York it all came together. As Reynolds stated, “Cara continued to develop every year and she got to the point that she was at the top of her game her senior year.” Truer words could not have been spoken. At that year’s national meet Cara was part of three national championship relay teams, highlighted by the 400 medley relay team which set a new NCAA-II national record with a time of 3:47.27. Individually, Cara finished second in the 200 backstroke and third in the 500 free. She claimed two national titles, one in the 400 IM with a time of 4:21.80. The other came in the 1,000 free, an event that she “took on” her senior year. She was the nation’s best in that event with a time of 10:05.23.
Reynolds credited Cara’s success in the pool with a common quality found in all champions, but at an uncommon level. Her work ethic. “We nicknamed her the “Destroyer” simply because of her practice ethic.” Reynolds continued, “Every day she came to the pool and just destroyed the practices. It was a pleasure to stand on deck and watch her train. The amount of effort she brought every day and develop into a national champion in multiple events was quite an accomplishment.” Reynolds said both of this year’s swimming inductees were similar. “It is really special to see to kids like Cara and Mitch, both of whom were just good high school swimmers come in and really develop into the level that they did... that of being a national champions. The best in the nation.”
After graduating from Drury Cara returned to her home state and attended Idaho State University where she earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2011. Since that time Cara has lived in Pocatella and has been working in a pediatric outpatient clinic. She met her husband, Luke, while in physical therapy school. Cara and Luke are the proud parents of two children: Piper and Simon.
