This week’s Spectrum News Scholar Athlete of the Week is Kiernan Shanahan.

Shanahan is a senior at Shenendehowa High School this fall. For the past six years at Shen, Kiernan has been a leader both on and off the field. A two-sport athlete in wrestling and football, Shanahan was a Section II wrestling champion and runner-up at the NYSPHSAA Championships last winter. Shanahan has also been active in Judo since he was five-years-old. He has a brown belt. Kiernan says those skills have helped him in his wrestling career.​

Shanahan helped lead the Plainsmen to their first-ever Section II Team Dual Championship. He is a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Council at Shen, empowering fellow athletes to speak about their interscholastic athletic experience.

“Kiernan is a warrior. He has been a great leader on and off the field for both football and wrestling teams at Shen,” said Shenendehowa Head Football Coach, Brian Clawson, “They don’t make student-athletes like Kiernan who can compete in multiple sports at the highest level and also carry a 90 average in the classroom,”

Kiernan will be attending North Carolina State University, where he will study and wrestle. 

Shanahan will receive a $1,000 scholarship.