Southern Connecticut State Swimmer Jaylon Nixon Dies in Car Accident

Jaylon Nixon Photo Courtesy: Southeastern Connecticut State University Athletics

Jaylon Nixon, a rising sophomore diver at Southern Connecticut State University, was killed in a car accident Sunday. He was 18 years old.

Nixon was involved in a two-car accident in his hometown of Meriden, Conn., around 4 a.m. Sunday. He was ejected from his vehicle as it rolled over, and Nixon was pronounced dead at the scene. The operator of the other vehicle was transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

“To describe the impact that Jaylon had, has, and will always have on our lives is incredibly challenging to put that into words,” the family wrote in a GoFundMe campaign it is launching. “Simply put, his presence lit up every single room he entered. There was not one person that did not feel the kindness that radiated off of him. To his two younger brothers and older sister, he was a role-model that took it upon himself to be a source of strength, a caretaker, and a defender. To his mother, he was her heart. To his father, he was his best friend. To his cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, he was a light that never dimmed. Every aspect of Jaylon was resilient, loving, and strong.

“Jaylon was a fighter. If a struggle came his way, he persevered. If a challenge came our way, as a family, he held us up and pushed us forward. He had a relentless spirit that never stopped to take a moment to make his family smile and laugh.”

Nixon excelled in diving and football at Maloney High School. On the gridiron, the 6-3, 180-pound outside linebacker/tight end helped the Spartans to a 10-3 record in his senior season. The seventh-seed in the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference (CIAC) Class L tournament advanced all the way to the final before falling.

On the board, he held the high school’s diving records as well as the records for the co-op team with Platt High. He competed in three meets in his freshman season at both the one- and three-meter heights.

“Southern Connecticut swimming and diving is very sad to learn of Jaylon’s passing,” SCSU head coach Tim Quill said in a university statement. “I pray for his family and friends as they deal with his loss. Our hearts and prayers are with the Nixon family as they grieve his tragic passing.”

“Southern Athletics is devastated to learn of Jaylon’s passing,” Director of Athletics Jay Moran said. “My heart breaks when a young person loses their life too soon. Our thoughts are with Jaylon’s family, his friends and his Owl teammates during this very difficult time.”

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