Kearney, McAfee make up 2022 class of Tar Heel Trailblazers
The award recognizes individuals who paved the way for success in all aspects of the student-athlete experience, shining a spotlight on pioneers who have made memorable and lasting contributions at Carolina and beyond.
Carolina Athletics will honor former Carolina student-athletes Synthia Scott Kearney and Reggie McAfee as Tar Heel Trailblazers on Saturday, recognizing both at halftime of the men’s basketball game against Florida State.
Kearney and McAfee make up the sixth class of Tar Heel Trailblazers. The award recognizes individuals who paved the way for success in all aspects of the student-athlete experience, shining a spotlight on pioneers who have made memorable and lasting contributions at Carolina and beyond. The recognition coincides with the celebration of Black History Month during the month of February.
Kearney was the first Black player to compete as part of the Carolina women’s soccer team and was a member of the program’s first two national championship teams, in 1981 and ’82. She scored the game-winning goal in the 1982 NCAA semifinal victory over Missouri-St. Louis to send Carolina into the first-ever NCAA Championship match. (Carolina’s 1981 title was in the AIAW, before the start of NCAA competition for women’s teams the following season.)
After college Kearney became a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service. Eventually, she pursued her dream of being a firefighter and went on to become the City of Gastonia’s first female battalion chief, a position she currently holds.
McAfee competed in track & field at Carolina and became the first Black runner ever to break the four-minute mark in the mile. His historic run of 3:59.8 came at the Big Four Meet in Raleigh in 1973. A week later, he won the 1973 ACC Outdoor Championship in the mile with a time of 3:59.3, which still stands as the second-fastest outdoor mile in school history.
McAfee was a four-time ACC champion and earned All-America honors four times. After nearly three decades working for the Xerox Corporation, he retired and founded Cross Country for Youth (CCFY), which he still runs in Charlotte.
After being honored at halftime of the men’s basketball game, the two will speak with current student-athletes and other department guests about their time at Carolina and their lives since graduation.
“We’re always so honored to recognize our Tar Heel Trailblazers and welcome them back to campus,” said Senior Associate Athletic Director Martina Ballen, the chair of the Carolina Athletics Tar Heel Trailblazers subcommittee. “Their perspectives are so valuable as they look back at their UNC experiences and reflect on the changes since they were in school. Both Synthia and Reggie distinguished themselves as student-athletes here and have gone on to success after graduation – they’re an outstanding addition to our group of Tar Heel Trailblazers and we can’t wait to honor them this weekend.”
A unique aspect of Kearney’s honor is that, in addition to being the first women’s soccer player honored, she’s the second member of her family to be named a Tar Heel Trailblazer. She’s the older sister of the late Stuart Scott, who was honored posthumously in the fall of 2015.
Tar Heel Trailblazers
2014: Courtney Bumpers, Robyn Hadley, Ricky Lanier and Charles Scott
2015: Karen Stevenson, Charles Waddell and Stuart Scott
2016: Sharon Couch and Phil Ford
2018: Peter Henry and Rochelle Small-Toney
2020: Willie Cooper
2022: Synthia Scott Kearney, Reggie McAfee
