KERI CUNNINGHAM

2013 INDUCTION TO THE RHODE ISLAND AQUATIC HALL OF FAME

Keri’s competitive swimming career began with South County YMCA and Little Rhody Aquatic Club. During the summers of 1984 through 1990, Keri lifeguarded at Roger Wheeler & Scarborough beaches, where she also taught ‘Learn to Swim’. Keri competed each summer in the Rhode Island Lifeguard races winning the grueling ‘Queen Neptune’ race in 1990. Keri captained her Plymouth State College Women’s swim team, and also broke the team’s 1000 meter freestyle record in 1990. On the coaching side, Keri started as assistant to Barbara Crowder’s Rams Swimming Club & South County YMCA. Keri founded and coached the Prout School swim team and assisted with creation and coaching of the North Kingstown High School Swim Team. In 2000, Keri became CEO and head coach of Rams

Swimming Club which she continues to this day.

In September 2005, Keri was named Aquatics Director of the St. George’s School and recently became head coach of their boys & girls swim team. In 2006 Keri received the ASCA’s Coaching Excellence Award – one of only two women in the nation for club teams. Keri has dedicated many years for  the advancement of swimming in Rhode Island. Several of Keri’s swimmers have gone on to become swim coaches. The countless number of swimmers Keri has coached range from reaching their personal bests to qualifying for Olympic Trials, all while contributing to the team. Keri and her husband Greg live in Newport, with their children Victoria & James.