University of North Carolina Athletics
2011-12 Swimming & Diving Roster
Candace Cooper
- Position:
- Back/Free
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Raleigh, N.C.
- High School:
- Ravenscroft School
General: Three-year letter winner...one of the team's top backstrokers...served an internship this past summer with the U.S. Olympic Committee's Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere (FLAME) Program...a member of the 200 free relay team which broke the school record in 2011.
2010-11 (Junior): Scored in three events at the 2011 ACC Championships...placed fourth in the 100 back at 53.72, 11th in the 200 back at 1:57.52 and 15th in the 50 free at 23.15...won the 2010 Nike Cup title in the 200 back with a career best 1:56.56.
2009-10 (Sophomore): Won the team's Hill Carrow Spirit Award...had an excellent ACC meet...finished seventh in the 100 back in 54.18 and 15th in the 200 back...won the 100 back in the dual meet versus Georgia Tech...member of the 2009-10 ACC Academic Honor Roll.
2008-09 (Freshman): Had a tremendous finish to her freshman season at the ACC Championships where she set several career best times...missed much of the fall season with an ankle injury, but recovered nicely to swim an excellent ACC meet...her time in the 100-yard backstroke in prelims would have ranked her seventh in the event had she been on the scoring team...her time was an NCAA "B" qualifying time of 53.98, moving her into second place in school history...would have ranked 11th overall with her exhibition swim in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:57.91 at the ACC Championships ...that clocking in the 200-yard backstroke moved her into third place in school history on the all-time depth chart.
Prep: Graduated from the Ravenscroft School in May 2008...named the NCISAA state girls' swimming overall champion twice...member of the NCISAA state girls' swimming championship 200 medley and 400 free relay teams...two-time NCISAA state girls' swimming individual champion in the 100 free...named a national high school All-America on the 400 freestyle and 200 medley relay teams ...named to the NCISAA All-Conference teams as a sophomore and junior...member of the NCISAA All-State team as a freshman, sophomore and junior...as a junior she broke the team record in the 200 IM...as a member of the YOTA Swim Team she was the team captain in 2007-08...named a U.S. Swimming Academic All-America in 2007... North Carolina Swimming All-Star in 2006 and 2007... she broke at least one club team record a year from 1998 to 2007...currently holds 20 of the 45 team records in the backstroke and on freestyle relays and medley relays... was a member of the North Carolina Aquablazers AAU Travel team...she was the National Black Heritage individual swimming champion in the 100 free and 100 back in 2007.
Personal: Name is Candace Danielle Cooper...nicknamed "Coop"...daughter of Donald and Kathryn Cooper...was born January 10, 1990 in Raleigh, N.C. ...majors in African-American Studies...her mother is a UNC Law School alumna...her father played basketball at St. Augustine's College and was drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers.
19 Questions With Senior Candace Cooper
Section #1: Swimming & Diving
1. The best thing about being a Tar Heel swimmer is getting to swim for a great university as well as obtaining an amazing education.
2. My favorite thing about competing for Coach DeSelm is he's passionate about his work and helps us strive to be the best student-athletes.
3. Since last year the aspect of my training I've worked on the most is my core and leg strength.
4. My best friend on another college swimming team is Blair Cross of the University of Maryland.
5. My greatest strengths as a swimmer are my passion and desire to be the best.
Section #2: Hobbies & Interests
1. Away from the pool and academics, I like to spend time watching movies, cooking, and doing arts and crafts.
2. The best movie I've seen recently is Jumping the Broom.
3. If I could compete in another sport at UNC it would be soccer.
4. The music act I'd most like to see in person is Adele.
5. The personal interest I have that might surprise my teammates is I love watching sports.
Section #3: Food & Beverage
1. After a big meet, I'd like to eat at a buffet spread at that included Soul Food.
2. My favorite beverage is Raspberry Lemonade.
3. My favorite food made by a relative is potato salad made by my Aunt Esther.
4. My favorite place to eat in Chapel Hill is Breadman's.
5. My favorite guilty pleasure food wise is cheesecake.
Section #4: Personality
1. My most prized personal possession is my Bible.
2. If I could go to dinner with a famous person it would be Rick Ross.
3. My dream job is to work in the sports industry.
4. The most interesting person I've met in my time at UNC is Sue Walsh.
