Kaycee Cannings

The Swim & Dive TYR '85 Invite is held in the Liberty University Natatorium on November 22, 2024. (Photo by KJ Jugar)

Liberty Swimming & Diving Media Day on September 27th, 2023. (Photo by Cassidy Paxton)

Class:
Sophomore
Height:
5-10
Hometown:
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Position:
Free, Fly
Prev School:
Home School

2024-25 (Jr.)

Competed primarily in sprint freestyle and relays
Earned B Finals appearances in the 100 free, 200 free and 500 free at ASUN Championships
Finished ninth overall in the 500 freestyle at ASUN Championships, winning the B final in a lifetime-best 4:56.96
Also won the ASUN B Final in the 200 freestyle, swimming a lifetime-best 1:50.19 to place ninth overall
Swam a season-best 51.59 in the 100 freestyle B Final at the ASUN meet, placing 16^th overall
Anchored Liberty’s 200 free relay at the ASUN Championships in 22.93, helping the Lady Flames finish third overall in 1:31.43

2023-24 (So.)

Focused on freestyle and relays during sophomore season
Appeared in B Final in 200 free at ASUN Championships with season-best 1:52.34 in prelims before finishing 15^th overall in 1:52.91 in finals
Placed 21^st overall in 50 freestyle (24.22) at ASUN meet
Finished 24^th in ASUN 100 freestyle in 53.07
Swam season-best in both 50 free (24.19) and 100 free (52.41) at TYR ’85 Invite

2022-23 (Fr.)

Focused on freestyle and relays as a freshman
Earned a pair of C Finals appearances at CCSA Championships
Finished 19^th overall in CCSA 50 free in season-best 23.52
Swam season-best 1:52.22 in 200 free at conference meet, placing 20^th overall
Placed 26^th in 100 free at CCSA Championships, swimming 52.09
Clocked season-best 100 free time of 51.19 at TYR ’85 Invite, placing 10^th
Competed in 100 free and 200 free at Toyota U.S. Open

Prep

Home schooled
Competed for Calgary Swim Club
Qualified for Canadian Nationals as both a sophomore and senior, medaling in three relays in 2022
As a senior, set two SCM Canadian Age Group records in the 200 free relay and 200 medley relay
Holds five provincial relay records
Valedictorian speaker in graduating class
Lifetime bests entering Liberty: 50 Free LCM – 26.82; 100 Free LCM – 57.37; 200 Free LCM – 2:03.57; 100 Fly LCM – 1:02.57

Personal

Daughter of Craig and Kelly Cannings
Mom, Kelly Cannings, played basketball at the University of Victoria
Cousin, Kelly Olynyk, played basketball at Gonzaga and currently plays for the Utah Jazz after previous NBA stints with the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons
Cousin, Riley Nash, played hockey at Cornell and has played in the NHL for the Carolina Hurricanes, Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, Tampa Bay Lightning and Arizona Coyotes
Majoring in social work, would like to be a clinical social worker for a nonprofit organization or in the mission field
Birthday is June 28

Top Efforts in a Liberty Uniform
50 Free – 23.52
100 Free – 50.96
200 Free – 1:50.19
500 Free – 4:56.96

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
I chose Liberty because I wanted to compete at the D1 level at a Christian university. Being an international student, I knew wanted to come to the States to continue my athletic pursuits. This made Liberty the perfect place for me and the community here made me feel right at home.

Is there anything you do prerace or postrace and why?
I always pray before every race as it gets me into the right mindset to compete.

Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
Both of my parents inspire me a lot. Their strength and resilience is admirable and I look up to then in every aspect of their lives.

What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
Winning conference the past three years has been so exciting and rewarding. In high school, during my senior year, I broke two National age group records which was very memorable for me.

Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports?
My cousin, Kelly Olynyk, plays for the Toronto Raptors basketball team and played for Team Canada in the Paris Olympics. I have another cousin that plays for the NHL, Riley Nash. My mother, grandparents, and uncle played collegiate basketball.