Surprised by success, West Aurora’s Brittney Moran keeps moving along. Next up? State. ‘I never thought I’d here.’

The moment hit West Aurora sophomore Brittney Moran right in the heart.

Moran posted three wins by fall in a combined 3:26 to capture first place Saturday at 190 pounds in the Geneseo Sectional. Afterward, the reality of what she achieved set in.

“This is a really surprising feeling,” she said. “I never thought I’d be here right now.

“Some of these girls started the sport when they were 4 or 5, and I didn’t really pick it up until middle school.”

After pinning Plainfield South’s Keira Enright in the first period, Moran (26-2) qualified for the girls state meet, to be held Feb. 24-25 at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington.

“I am proud of myself,” Moran said. “This is a big accomplishment.”

Last season as a freshman, Moran reached the semifinal round at 190 before finishing sixth in the inaugural girls’ state meet.

Now, she’s a year older and more confident about her return trip.

“The coaches have helped me throughout the season to get aggressive and pay more attention to technique and focus on myself,” Moran said. “Both of my losses have been against the same girl, so I know what I have to do.”

Ionicca Rivera, a junior, also qualified for state for the Blackhawks.

Rivera (24-4) lost a narrow decision in the sectional championship match at 170 against Joliet Central senior Nydia Martinez, a conference rival.

But to Rivera, Moran has been a key.

“Brittney is always pushing herself and others to work harder and be better,” Rivera said. “She is always there to cheer others on during their matches or always making people laugh if they are having a tough day.”

Moran has been making up for the lost time.

She credits older brother Brian Anthony Mercado, who wrestled at West Aurora, as her inspiration and primary influence growing up.

“I didn’t even really know it was a sport or something that girls did,” she said. “I got to middle school and I wanted to do a sport. I had been in volleyball for about eight years.

“Brian wasn’t sure if I’d like it, but he fired me up and got me interested. Almost right away, I was already better than some of the guys. I thought that was such a cool feeling.”

The most significant roadblock for Moran looms in the formidable presence of West Chicago junior Jayden Huesca-Rodriguez (15-0), the defending state champion at 190.

Both of Moran’s losses are against Huesca-Rodriguez.

“It was eye-opening because I never wrestled her before and I was very nervous,” Moran said. “Now, my mentality is better than it was last year.

“The match was much closer the second time we wrestled. Once that whistle blows, I am going to be rid of being nervous.”

Competition at the top: The starting weight class for the girls is 100 pounds, and it will have a distinctly local flavor at state.

East Aurora sophomore Kameyah Young (29-2) defeated Joliet Central’s Chloe Wong in the championship match at the Geneseo Sectional.

Bartlett sophomore Emma Engels (14-1) captured the sectional title at Schaumburg. Batavia freshman Lily Enos finished third.

Enos (40-11) exacted her own measure of revenge in qualifying for state. After losing to Montini’s Kat Bell in the quarterfinal, she won three straight consolation matches.

Enos then defeated Bell 11-7 in the third-place match.

Best of both worlds: Sandwich junior Ashlyn Strenz lost a tough decision against Joliet Central’s Eliana Paramo for the 115-pound title at Geneseo.

Strenz (22-14) has a wide range of experience, toggling back and forth between the boys and girls programs. She wrestled at 113 for several high profile boys tournaments, including in December at the Plano Reaper Classic.

Down and up: Larkin’s Maria Ferrer improved her conditioning to drop down a weight class.

After finishing fourth last year at 170 pounds, Ferrer (27-5) made a strong showing as a senior in the sectional at Schaumburg by reaching the finals at 155.

Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.