Carl Roothman: Why Liberty Proved to be his Best Decision
4/10/2026 3:00:00 PM | Men's Tennis
When Carl Roothman first considered Liberty, it was only a name on a shortlist—one of two programs he weighed equally as his collegiate tennis career began. Years later, that indecision would become a defining fork in the road, one that eventually led him to a place he now calls the best decision he's ever made. Now a graduate senior, Roothman arrived in Lynchburg by way of Oklahoma State after two years in Stillwater. The transition was about more than tennis. It was about finding the right environment to grow as a person, a student, and a competitor.
Now in his second and final season on the Flames, he's determined to savor each moment with the program that helped him rediscover his love for the game and his sense of purpose beyond it. "It's been good," he said. "The team, we've had our moments—some positive, some bad. Overall, I feel like it's been pretty good. I'm trying to enjoy my last year, trying not to be too caught up on results, but just enjoying the coaches and players."
Roothman's path to Liberty was shaped by family connections and faith. His cousin, Christiaan Worst, played at Liberty after transferring from Vanderbilt and spoke often about the program's culture and community. "Christiaan was telling me how much he enjoyed it, how good the coaches are, the facilities and then obviously the Christian aspect of it," Roothman said. "My two years at Oklahoma State, I really started to take my faith seriously, then I wanted to play a bit more. I had some difficulties within the team (Okla. State) and with my relationship with Christiaan, I decided to transfer to Liberty for the community and just what Liberty stands for—and then obviously the tennis."
He recalls a story that affirmed his choice. "W I didn't commit to Liberty, I think Rachel, Coash Schwandt's wife, told him she had a feeling I'd still end up at Liberty," Roothman said. "The fact that I didn't go the first time and came here the second time, I think this is where the Lord wanted me. Spiritually, it's probably one of the best universities to be at in the country. The thing I'm most happiest about and the stuff I remember most, are the guys I met and the friends I made. The people would be why I say it's the best choice."
It was a decision rooted as much in personal growth as athletic opportunity. "I would say 100 percent," he said. "Tennis is obviously important, but the main reason was more personal development."
On the court, Roothman's passion for the game is matched by his gratitude for the moments that define a season. "The highlight of the season was Princeton, 100 percent," he said. "I think they were top-20 at that stage and we went up and beat them, 4-3. That was unreal for the team and for me individually. That was by far the highlight of my career."
At Liberty, Roothman discovered a team culture that felt like home. "I live with Chase (Robinson), Ernst (Gouws), Rodrigo (Santiago), and Ben (Sparks) and Guy (Vorwerk) spend quite a bit of time there," he said. "We talk about tennis quite a lot. We all have friends somewhere else, we all follow tennis, so there's always conversation within the apartment about sports—and then obviously golf as well."
Golf has become a favorite pastime among the group. "I would say golf is the biggest one," he said. "Over spring break, we went and played 18 on Saturday, played another 9 on Sunday, we have pools all over our apartment and we putt and chip all day long."
With several South Africans on the roster, sports debates are a daily occurrence. "South Africa loves rugby, cricket, and we're three South Africans in the team, so we constantly talk about that," Roothman said. "There's always a little debate about what's better, NFL or rugby, with the Americans. Sport certainly within our team brings us together and sparks conversation."
Roothman's growth at Liberty extends beyond the court. His faith, which began to take root at Oklahoma State, flourished in an environment that encouraged openness and reflection. "I think it just puts everything into perspective," he said. "With tennis, so many ups and downs. Faith has just helped me with perspective overall, knowing that I'm not living for the worldly things, but trying to focus on Christ."
The journey hasn't always been easy, but it's been transformative. "It's not easy," he said. "Before I got saved, you feel like when you get saved, it's easier—it's actually harder every day. Liberty has helped me a lot in being able to talk more about it. I won't say I'm the biggest talker ever. I had more like a personal thing and was more quiet about it before Liberty, so I think being more open about it, speaking about it, has helped me a lot."
Family remains his anchor. "I try to go home every chance I get," he said. "I do a month in December over the winter break and then like two, two and a half months over the summer break. I'm really close with my family. My parents came to visit here once or twice, which was really cool for them to see. I've got three siblings—I'm the second oldest—and I'm pretty close with my younger brother. It's been tough being away from them for four years, but they've helped me a lot, especially at Oklahoma State when I wasn't really happy. They had to always be there for me."
As he prepares for life after Liberty, Roothman is balancing long-term goals with unfinished business in tennis. "I'm going to go back home," he said. "I don't have any intention of staying here—not that I don't like America, I just feel like it's time for me to move on. I'm thinking of taking the CFA exam in November and then trying to get into a master's in finance program back home. I think it would be good for me to mix the American college and South African universities as well."
He isn't ready to hang up his racquet just yet. "I made a little promise to myself that I'll play professionally—like future level for entry level pro—for the rest of the year, study for the exam, see how it goes, and then make a decision next year," he said. "If tennis goes well, still play for fun, but study full-time, look for a job, and just move on. But yeah, we'll see. I'm still very undecided about the future."
As Carl Roothman approaches Senior Day, he shared why coming to Liberty was one of the best decisions of his life.
— Liberty Men's Tennis (@LibertyMTennis) April 10, 2026
Read his full story at https://t.co/zYQjE4jSp1 pic.twitter.com/s9XKaqiTs0
Now in his second and final season on the Flames, he's determined to savor each moment with the program that helped him rediscover his love for the game and his sense of purpose beyond it. "It's been good," he said. "The team, we've had our moments—some positive, some bad. Overall, I feel like it's been pretty good. I'm trying to enjoy my last year, trying not to be too caught up on results, but just enjoying the coaches and players."
Roothman's path to Liberty was shaped by family connections and faith. His cousin, Christiaan Worst, played at Liberty after transferring from Vanderbilt and spoke often about the program's culture and community. "Christiaan was telling me how much he enjoyed it, how good the coaches are, the facilities and then obviously the Christian aspect of it," Roothman said. "My two years at Oklahoma State, I really started to take my faith seriously, then I wanted to play a bit more. I had some difficulties within the team (Okla. State) and with my relationship with Christiaan, I decided to transfer to Liberty for the community and just what Liberty stands for—and then obviously the tennis."
He recalls a story that affirmed his choice. "W I didn't commit to Liberty, I think Rachel, Coash Schwandt's wife, told him she had a feeling I'd still end up at Liberty," Roothman said. "The fact that I didn't go the first time and came here the second time, I think this is where the Lord wanted me. Spiritually, it's probably one of the best universities to be at in the country. The thing I'm most happiest about and the stuff I remember most, are the guys I met and the friends I made. The people would be why I say it's the best choice."
It was a decision rooted as much in personal growth as athletic opportunity. "I would say 100 percent," he said. "Tennis is obviously important, but the main reason was more personal development."
On the court, Roothman's passion for the game is matched by his gratitude for the moments that define a season. "The highlight of the season was Princeton, 100 percent," he said. "I think they were top-20 at that stage and we went up and beat them, 4-3. That was unreal for the team and for me individually. That was by far the highlight of my career."
At Liberty, Roothman discovered a team culture that felt like home. "I live with Chase (Robinson), Ernst (Gouws), Rodrigo (Santiago), and Ben (Sparks) and Guy (Vorwerk) spend quite a bit of time there," he said. "We talk about tennis quite a lot. We all have friends somewhere else, we all follow tennis, so there's always conversation within the apartment about sports—and then obviously golf as well."
Golf has become a favorite pastime among the group. "I would say golf is the biggest one," he said. "Over spring break, we went and played 18 on Saturday, played another 9 on Sunday, we have pools all over our apartment and we putt and chip all day long."
With several South Africans on the roster, sports debates are a daily occurrence. "South Africa loves rugby, cricket, and we're three South Africans in the team, so we constantly talk about that," Roothman said. "There's always a little debate about what's better, NFL or rugby, with the Americans. Sport certainly within our team brings us together and sparks conversation."
Roothman's growth at Liberty extends beyond the court. His faith, which began to take root at Oklahoma State, flourished in an environment that encouraged openness and reflection. "I think it just puts everything into perspective," he said. "With tennis, so many ups and downs. Faith has just helped me with perspective overall, knowing that I'm not living for the worldly things, but trying to focus on Christ."
The journey hasn't always been easy, but it's been transformative. "It's not easy," he said. "Before I got saved, you feel like when you get saved, it's easier—it's actually harder every day. Liberty has helped me a lot in being able to talk more about it. I won't say I'm the biggest talker ever. I had more like a personal thing and was more quiet about it before Liberty, so I think being more open about it, speaking about it, has helped me a lot."
Family remains his anchor. "I try to go home every chance I get," he said. "I do a month in December over the winter break and then like two, two and a half months over the summer break. I'm really close with my family. My parents came to visit here once or twice, which was really cool for them to see. I've got three siblings—I'm the second oldest—and I'm pretty close with my younger brother. It's been tough being away from them for four years, but they've helped me a lot, especially at Oklahoma State when I wasn't really happy. They had to always be there for me."
As he prepares for life after Liberty, Roothman is balancing long-term goals with unfinished business in tennis. "I'm going to go back home," he said. "I don't have any intention of staying here—not that I don't like America, I just feel like it's time for me to move on. I'm thinking of taking the CFA exam in November and then trying to get into a master's in finance program back home. I think it would be good for me to mix the American college and South African universities as well."
He isn't ready to hang up his racquet just yet. "I made a little promise to myself that I'll play professionally—like future level for entry level pro—for the rest of the year, study for the exam, see how it goes, and then make a decision next year," he said. "If tennis goes well, still play for fun, but study full-time, look for a job, and just move on. But yeah, we'll see. I'm still very undecided about the future."
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