2022 Northwest Herald Wrestler of the Year: Crystal Lake South’s Shane Moran

Shane Moran has steered away from taking the easy road his entire wrestling career, learning from adversity and using it to become better.

The Crystal Lake South senior did so again in the biggest moment of his wrestling career.

Moran trailed, 3-0, in his Class 2A state championship match at 182 pounds against Grayslake Central’s Matty Jens, but toward the end of the second period, he became more aggressive and fought back to win his first state title.

Reaching the state tournament twice during his high school career only motivated Moran instead of satisfying him.

Moran’s resilience is why he has been named the 2022 Northwest Herald Wrestler of the Year, as voted on by the sports staff.

Moran recently spoke with sports writer Michal Dwojak about who impacted his wrestling career the most, what animal he would be and much more.

What will you remember the most about this season?

Moran: It was right after the championship match. I went into the tunnel and I saw my buddy Josh Knudten from Libertyville, and he asked, ‘Did you win?’ and I asked ‘Did you win?’ and we hugged each other and started jumping up and down like little school girls. I thought it was funny how it probably looked for anyone else watching.

Who had the biggest impact on your wrestling career?

Moran: It must be McHenry’s Brody Hallin, because when he started coming to the club I wrestle at, the Wizards, that’s when I really started taking wrestling more seriously. If it weren’t for him, I probably wouldn’t have gone so deep in wrestling.

What is your walkout song?

Moran: The “American Psycho” by D12.

Which one of your teammates really inspired you?

Moran: Definitely [Crystal Lake South graduate] Chris Olsen because I remember going down to Champaign my freshman year, and I watched him win his sophomore year. That was really inspiring, knowing one of my teammates that I grew up with won a state title so young. It just put more hope into my head that if he could do it, I could do it, too.

What is something most people don’t know about wrestling?

Moran: I think it would probably be the mental aspect. Everyone can tell that it’s a tough sport physically – you need the conditioning to be strong. Most people don’t understand the mental discipline that goes along with diet and preparation before your match, too.

What routines do you follow to maintain your weight, and how difficult is that to do?

Moran: This year maintaining weight wasn’t that difficult, but I would still discipline my diet and cut out the junk food and eat healthy.

What’s your favorite TV show?

Moran: Right now it’s “Seinfeld.” I’m on Season 8 right now, and it’s the first time I’m watching it chronologically.

What is your dream job?

Moran: I always wanted to play in the NFL because I really liked football growing up, so that would be really cool making millions of dollars playing football every day.

What is your favorite class right now?

Moran: My favorite class that I’m taking right now is AP Calculus BC. That’s a really tough, challenging class.

After a big tournament, what’s your go-to pig-out food?

Moran: Anywhere from chicken wings to burgers, pretty basic.

What is one thing that people don’t know about you?

Moran: Most people don’t know that I play guitar, actually. I started a little over a year ago.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Moran: I would want to go somewhere in Italy, probably Rome. I’d like to see the Colosseum. That’d be pretty cool. I like the food, too.

Do you have any superstitions before a match?

Moran: I’ve got to make sure that everything is right, the way my shoelaces are taped, to the underwear I have on, the socks that I have on, the headgear that I’m wearing, the music that I’m listening to, that’s got to be right, as well. I’ve got to make sure I get a good sweat in. I have to warm up an hour before my match, and then I sit down and cool off a little bit, rehydrate. I’d say about three matches before mine, I start to get ready, get warmed up, get mentally ready before my match.

If you could be any animal in the world, which would you be?

Moran: I would be a raccoon because they’re pretty cool. They’re smart little creatures that are funny, too. You see them digging around trash cans, finding what they need. I don’t know if you’ve seen any of the raccoon videos, but they’re pretty funny creatures.