CLEARFIELD – In what has already been a record-setting season for Clearfield’s Keegan “Keegster” MacDonald, it certainly would be sweet to cap it off with state gold around his neck.
The Clearfield Area High School senior is a diver of around six years and has been working for the last several years to become the best he can be. Along the way, he’s set numerous records, including a record that stood for over four decades. His 293.75 broke the record of Bison boys’ swimming alumni George White, who recorded a 292.50 in the late 1970s, and also the DuBois pool record. MacDonald followed this up with a 313.00, which shattered the pool record at Clearfield as well as improved his own program record. MacDonald followed this up by setting the Mark Hess Invitational record in an event held at the IUP Memorial Field House/Zink Hall.
Being the lone diver on his high school team and on the guys’ side of District 9 for the last three years has been far from an easy quest. He’s had no peers to push him or share technique with. Though it could be lonely to be the only boys’ diver at many of the meets, he’s turned to his teammates who dive for the Lady Bison, his coaches, and his parents Melanie and Ed for support and to help keep him grounded through his ascension. “It’s been hard when there is limited competition to stay focused and continue diving,” MacDonald admitted. “Having my parents’ support and my coaches beside me to help me keep improving has helped a lot.”
In his high school career, MacDonald has become a four-time letter winner, a four-time District 9 qualifier, a three-time District 9 individual champion, a three-time District 9 team champion, a three-time participant in the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships, and placed fifth in the state in 2023. MacDonald has also never lost a meet in his high school career with the Bison and helped the program to continue their recent domination at the D9 level. “I’m very glad I joined,” said MacDonald about joining the Clearfield swimming programs in middle school. “Most of my closest friends are on the team and I’ve made so many more over the years from being on the team. My teammates and coaches have pushed me to keep going, and it’s resulted in me breaking these records along the way.”
As a youngster, MacDonald had a knack for the extreme and even considers himself a bit of an adrenaline junkie. He’s passionate about skateboarding, riding motorbikes, and is a four-year member of the Clearfield Ski Club. But what made people wonder about his future in swimming and diving was his ability to jump on the trampoline. The flips and tricks never scared him, and the transition to the one-meter diving board was not as intimidating as it would be for some. He began attending practices and workouts with the varsity program when allowed and it resulted in him having some experience when he was first allowed to dive as a freshman in high school.
This early exposure to the sport helped him find a passion at a younger age for diving than some and he now even has offers to continue his career in college if he chooses to do so. At this time, MacDonald is still weighing his options and is most looking forward to the last District 9 championship meet and to giving it his all at the state meet. These moments will be the last time that he and his teammates read the “Swim Bible” before meets; a tradition that has become a true superstition for the program before every competition.
No matter the outcome in his final two high school meets, Keegan MacDonald has already had himself a career for the record books. He’s set numerous records, helped the Clearfield Bison continue a dynasty, and made friendships that will last a lifetime with his coaches and friends. “This would not be possible without the support of my parents, teammates, and my coaches, Jon Mikesell, Claire Mikesell, Bob Mikesell, and Tristan Buck. I’m really glad I gave diving a chance at practice a few years back,” he said.