Nick is one of the most accomplished student-athletes to ever walk the hallways of Ponaganset High School. As a senior, he earned the Brian Fell Award as the graduating class’ most outstanding athlete, Ideal Chieftain Award presented to the graduating senior who exemplifies the highest standards of excellence at Ponaganset
, and was a Member of the Rhode Island and National Honor Societies with a cumulative GPA of 4.3 while taking the toughest Honors and AP courses at Ponaganset
. Nick competed in all 12 athletic seasons during his four years at Ponaganset
and earned the prestigious Providence Journal Honor Roll Boy of the Year award presented annually to the preeminent student-athlete in the State of RI. Nick also dedicated himself to helping those less fortunate working with Special Olympics and a local program for children with mental disabilities every weekend during middle school and high school. He cherished the time spent with these individuals and enjoyed every Sunday afternoon with the TOPS program almost as much as he enjoyed fall Saturday afternoons on the gridiron.
On the fields of play Nick’s dominance, intensity, and determination was a thrill to watch. He is a four-time Providence Journal All-State First Team recipient- in Football and Track (javelin), adding a Second-Team All State award in track as a sophomore and as the anchor leg “engine 4” of the 4x100m relay team as a senior. He earned first team All-Division and Academic All-Division honors in Football and Track during seven of his eight seasons in those sports. Nick competed in four events as a sprinter and thrower on the Track & Field team. His dominance as a Javelin thrower was apparent as he went undefeated for two straight seasons in-state and placed 3rd and 4th respectively at the New England Championships. Nick was a three-time Track team MVP, two-time Football MVP and leading rusher since his sophomore year amassing 4400 yards, 41 TD’s, and 272 points in 34 games, all while never missing a varsity football game in his high school career. Nick was a constant on the football field, playing runningback on offense, safety on defense, kicker and punter on special teams. He was honored as the Providence Gridiron Club’s Back of the Year presented to the best runningback in the state and a member of the RI Football Foundation’s Golden Dozen for his spectacular senior year. He was a key part of the 2007 DIII Football Championship starting in all three phases of the game as a sophomore and the main reason Ponaganset was crowned DIII Champion again in 2009. Nick is a four-time First Team All-Stater, two-time football State Champion and a key member of the only undefeated football team in Ponaganset history for a reason: he works harder, has more heart, and the undying will to impose it on the opposition. In short, he refused to lose.
Nick is the beloved son of Tom and Beth Keeling. He joins his older brothers Michael and Jacob as a member of the Ponaganset High School Athletic Hall of Fame and his father, Dr. Thomas A. Keeling who is a multiple time inductee into the Burrillville High School Athletic Hall of Fame in football and ice hockey as well as a member of the Merrimack College Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments as a stellar Ice Hockey athlete.