College of Coastal Georgia softball player dies after battle with cancer

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WTOC) - Friends and family are remembering the life of a Southeast Georgia athlete who recently died after a courageous battle with cancer.

Kennedy Waymer was a sophomore at the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick and a member of the school’s softball team.

WTOC spoke with Kennedy’s parents and her head coach about her life and lasting legacy.

“All my players are like grandkids to me. And when you get a perfect grandkid like that — just everything about her — it makes it so hard," College of Coastal Georgia Head Softball Coach, Mike Minick.

Coach Minick is one of many people who say life without Kennedy Waymer will never be the same. Kennedy was a member of the softball team and passed away on October 14.

She was first diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, during her senior year of high school in 2024.

Even while undergoing treatment, her parents say she never gave up on her dream of playing college softball. That same year, she joined the Coastal Georgia softball team as a freshman.

But just when things seemed to be improving, her family received more difficult news this year.

“After 19 rounds of chemotherapy, she rang the bell — then the day she rang the bell, they told her it had spread to her lungs. So when it spread to her lungs, they said, ‘Okay, we’re going to do surgery,’" said mother, Sandra Waymer.

Despite her illness, Coach Minick says Kennedy stayed committed, both in the classroom and to her teammates.

“She wasn’t able to play last year, but she was still a huge part of the team — a great teammate, a great friend to the girls. During games, she’d help us however she could, and she traveled with us to as many road games as possible," said Coach Minick.

Although Kennedy passed away earlier this month, her mother says she finds peace knowing how strong her daughter’s faith was and how she was able to help her teammates with their spirituality.

“We are a strong faith family. We do believe she’s in a better place,” said Ronald Waymer.

Faith, her family says, will keep Kennedy’s legacy alive not only at home, but on her college campus as well.

“We’re going to honor her name at Coastal from now on. We retired her jersey — nobody’s going to wear number 11 again. I wouldn’t want anybody to try to live up to those standards," said Coach Minick.