Barrington’s Lily Reader Will Become a Tar Heel With 2022 Verbal to North Carolina
NEW COMMIT: Barrington, Ill. native Lily Reader has pledged her verbal commitment to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill beginning in the fall of 2022.
She will join Kyleigh Tankard and Aislin Farris as a member of the Tar Heels’ Class of 2026.
Regarding her commitment, she said:
“I’m so beyond excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Thank you to all my friends, family, teammates and coaches who have supported me my whole life. GO HEELS!”
A talented freestyler and IMer, Reader trains year-round with Barrington Swim Club and most recently competed at the Toyota U.S. Open last month. In Summer 2019, she earned bronze in the 800m free at Des Moines Futures where she also placed ninth in the 400m free and 13th in the 100m fly.
Her best times include:
- 200 free – 1:51.67
- 500 free – 4:50.53
- 1000 free – 10:12.32
- 1650 free – 17:02.29
- 100 fly – 56.01
- 200 IM – 2:05.39
Currently a junior at Barrington High School, Reader placed fourth in the 500 free as a sophomore while taking 10th in the 200 IM during her freshman season. She is also a six-time IHSA Sectional finalist, winning the 500 free in 2019 and 2020.
She has also earned NISCA and USA Swimming Scholastic All-American honors for her efforts in the pool and in the classroom.
Reader is a great pickup for the Tar Heels, as she would’ve placed in the C-final of the 500 free at the 2020 ACC Championships. Under head coach Mark Gangloff, UNC improved from seventh in 2019 at the conference meet to fourth last season.
If you have a commitment to share, please send a photo and quote via email to hs@swimmingworld.com.