Reilly Shanahan named January player of the month

Lifelong swimmer Reilly Shanahan was recently named TribLocal High School Player of the Month for January.

For being named the January player of the month, contest sponsor Brilliance Honda donated $500 to Shanahan's school.

Shanahan, a senior at McHenry East High School, started off the season with two state qualifying times and a school record for swimming. The previous 100-yard freestyle school record had been held by his older brother Ryan since 1991. Shanahan broke his brother's record by over two-tenths of a second with a 48.65, which is also under the state qualifying time.

His first 50-yard freestyle of the season was a 21.85, almost half a second under the state qualifying cut.

"My goal this year is to get top 12 in the IHSA state meet in the 50 and 100 freestyle," Shanahan, 17, said. "I can definitely see myself swimming in college. I have already talked to several schools about it, but nothing is final yet."

Shanahan is the son of Mike, who has been the McHenry Marlins Swim Team coach for 21 years. He is also the girls swim coach at McHenry Community High School.

Shanahan said he plans to study physical education or business after high school.

By Lawerence Synett, Triblocal.com reporter

Mike Shanahan, left, McHenry Community High School student athlete Reilly Shanahan, Brilliance Honda representative Kevin Kefe and McHenry assistant athletic director Mike Przybylski