From 1985-88, Nancy (Schermer) DeJonge and Jeff Cooper were rock stars on the men’s and women’s teams. Cooper was named All-American 13 times in those three years, and Nancy secured 24 All-American nods while setting 14 different school and pool records. She would go on to be inducted into Oakland Athletics Hall of Honor in 1994.

Shortly after Jeff and Nancy graduated from the University, Nancy’s sister, Lynae, began making waves herself on the women’s team. From 1989-92, she was named All-American a whopping 27 times while securing seven national champion titles. She followed her sister into the Hall of Honor in 1998.

Jeff and Lynae eventually married. Nancy, meanwhile, married and has two sons, Philip and Micah, who are keeping the OU family tradition alive by swimming the 500 meter, 1000 meter, and mile events for Oakland’s men’s team, which now competes in NCAA Division I.

Philip, a freshman, is two years behind Micah, but the brothers have been swimming together since high school in Zeeland, Michigan. Philip has been enjoying the opportunity to swim with his older brother again at OU.

“Micah really pushes me,” Philip says. “I love that about his training mentality — he always wants to get better. That really helps me, especially in this first year transitioning into the college lifestyle.”

For both brothers, following in their mother, aunt and uncle’s footsteps enhances their own experience of swimming at OU. “Oakland just won its 41st championship, but that goes back to when they were swimming,” Micah says. “We’re on the same consecutive streak as when they were here, so it’s really cool for us to be part of that and help keep it going.”

The brothers are proud of their relatives’ successes, but when asked how they feel about seeing their mom and aunt’s names up on the record board when they’re about to dive into the pool, they say they don’t worry too much about living up to the family name.

“It doesn’t put any pressure on me at all,” Philip says confidently. “Swimming has evolved so much since my mom and my aunt and uncle swam.”

Both brothers concede that a hint of the family competitive streak has helped them achieve so much in the water.

“When my sons where going through the college decision making process, I prayed they would find a place that would feel like home to them,” says Nancy. “The fact that Micah and Philip have both found that at my alma-mater, is icing on the cake.”

“It feels amazing to know that they live, learn, experience new things, build relationships and of course swim at the same place that I did many years ago,” she says.