Former Cape Elizabeth star swimmer killed in North Carolina automotive crash

Keegan McKenney, a 22-year-old former star swimmer at Cape Elizabeth High School, died in a automotive crash in Charlotte, North Carolina, early Sunday morning.

McKenney was a passenger in a BMW that ran off the street and collided with a tree, based on a information launch by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. The different passengers had been transported to the hospital. 

The police are wanting into whether or not impairment or velocity had been elements within the case.

McKenney was a senior at Queens College in Charlotte and a member of the swim crew, specializing within the particular person medley and butterfly.

He was a “cherished teammate, friend and member of the Queens family whose impact will never be forgotten” his teammates stated in a Facebook post.

McKenney was some of the proficient swimmers to ever compete for Cape Elizabeth High School, based on coach Ben Raymond. 

He held faculty data within the 200 particular person medley, 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and in relays. At his senior 12 months state meet in 2022, he was named Performer of the Meet, breaking a meet report, serving to Cape Elizabeth win the state title for the primary time since 2015 and beating a college report that had been held since 1983.

He was named the Varsity Maine Male Swimmer of the Year in 2022, and was additionally on the USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team. 

“He inspired those around him through consistent effort, commitment and dedication but allowed himself to enjoy time in the pool and on deck with his friends and teammates,” Raymond stated.

McKenney satisfied many associates and classmates to affix the Cape swim crew, and he was a job mannequin for youthful swimmers, like his brother Cormac. 

He was very charismatic, based on Todd Larlee, McKenney’s membership swimming coach for a few years. McKenney swam with Coastal Maine Aquatics, now Bluefish Swim Club, for a couple of years. One of his teammates commented on an Instagram post that he was “a true leader and even better teammate.”

“We didn’t have a captain on the club team, but he had a captain-like role,” Larlee stated. 

McKenney led by instance, and was fast to inspire his teammates with a joke. “People loved being around him at the pool,” Larlee stated. 

McKenney cherished any alternative to get within the water. He cherished to surf, regardless of the season. 

He additionally had a powerful work ethic. When McKenney was house through the summer season and competing for his membership crew, he’d hit the pool at 5:30 a.m. to get a 90-minute swim in earlier than going to work as a lifeguard in Prouts Neck, Larlee stated.