At USJ: Kavanaugh led the way all season long in his freshman year with the men's cross country team, picking up two 5K wins.

Before USJ: Kavanaugh is a native of West Hartford, graduating from Conard High School. He was a four-year member of the cross country and track teams, where he earned all-academic honors every season. He earned the Four-Year Two-Sport Athlete Award in addition to several other sportsmanship related awards. Kavanaugh has volunteered at the Connecticut Children's Medical Center, participating in a toy and book drive in the craniofacial department.