ERIE — The Deemer brothers know how to compete — in the water and out.

Butler graduates Joe and Alex Deemer are teammates on the Gannon University swim team. Joe is a senior while Alex is a sophomore.

Older brother Ryan Deemer is an Ashland (Ohio) University graduate now beginning a career in nursing. He was a standout swimmer at Ashland.

Younger brother Sam is a senior on the Butler High School swim team.

“Swimming has been a family sport for us,” Joe said. “We've been swimming together for the past 10 or 12 years.

“The four of us were teammates on the Butler YMCA team for a long time.”

Joe and Alex are part of the record-setting 800-yard freestyle relay at Gannon. They joined teammates Robert Bolmanski and Brent Benedict in swimming the event in 6 minutes, 46.17 seconds last year.

Joe and Alex were also part of a record-setting quartet in the medley relay at Butler High School. Alex and Sam were part of a Golden Tornado relay team that snapped that mark.

“That's the way it works,” Joe said, laughing.

Their work in the classroom at Gannon has been no laughing matter. Joe Deemer is carrying a 4.0 grade point average as a business major, minoring in accounting and psychology.

Alex is carrying a 3.87 GPA as a mechanical engineering major with a minor in math.

“We've always pushed each other,” Alex said. “Our parents instilled the work-ethic in all of us. That's been the culture in our home ... always give your best in everything you're doing.”

Swimming for a Division II program, particularly at an academic school as challenging as Gannon, “the academics have always come first,” Joe said.

Gannon swim coach Jacqueline Michalski has enjoyed watching the Deemer brothers develop in the classroom and in the pool.

“It's so impressive how they've been successful at both,” the coach said. “They are versatile swimmers. I primarily use them in the 100 free and 200 free, along with relays.

“Joe talks to younger swimmers on the team about balancing academics with team responsibilities. He's become a real leader in that regard.”

Joe began his collegiate career at Shippensburg before transferring to Gannon after his freshman year.

“I was doing OK (at Shippensburg), but I didn't do my due diligence when I was looking for a school my senior year,” he admitted. “Gannon was a better fit for me.

“I went from concentrating on the butterfly to doing freestyle and it's really worked out for me.”

Alex looked at a number of schools before deciding on Gannon.

“It fit my major well and having my brother there was a real plus,” Alex said. “He gave me a lot of information. He's been my role model and I had no problem with following him up here.”

Gannon has a tentative swimming schedule set to start up next month.

“I'm excited about what they (Deemer brothers) will be able to do for us,” Michalski said. “As brothers, they have a healthy relationship. They do push each other. They're good for each other.

“They bring a lot of energy to the pool.”

Joe Deemer will graduate in May and already has a job waiting for him in the investment division with PNC Bank.

“I just want to help us do well at the PSAC championship meet,” he said. “I feel like we've got a shot at it. And I want to help our younger guys be successful.”

Alex, of course, is one of those younger guys.

“My goals are to keep improving and develop in the events I'll be competing in,” Alex said. “I'm looking forward to the start of the season and seeing what we can do.”