Molly Brangan didn’t sign up for wrestling to become one of the best.
She did it so she wouldn’t get beat up by her little brother.
Brangan is a junior at Archbishop Ryan High School, and now she’s one of the top wrestlers in the area, but when the Chalfont wrestler first stepped on a mat, she had no visions of championships dancing in her head.
“My little brother was wrestling at Judge and I didn’t feel like watching him practice anymore,” Brangan said with a laugh. “So I went out. He’s a year younger than me. I was probably 7 or 8. It looked like fun and I didn’t want to be left out. And I didn’t want my little brother to beat up on me.
“He started at Judge, so did I. But we later moved to the Ryan junior program because there were more girls and more opportunities for girls. The Junior Raiders taught us a lot. I wrestled when I was younger, but I really didn’t take it seriously.
Now, she’s not just taking it seriously, she’s become one of the top wrestlers in Southeastern Pennsylvania and made history by becoming the first girl to represent Archbishop Ryan at the state tournament.
It all started when she went from competing in wrestling to become a full-fledged wrestler.
“I always enjoyed it, but during COVID, I took breaks like everyone because you couldn’t wrestle,” said Brangan, who went 33-9 this year to compile an 85-25 career record during her first three seasons. “I joined Misfits later, and by high school I was wrestling all year long. Once I started with Misfits, I really started to get better.”
While wrestling with the Bensalem-based club, Brangan started wrestling with Julia Horger, a three-time state champion from Conwell-Egan. The duo were the only two from the league to make states this year, but the Ragdolls and the Eagles are setting a great example for other teams if they want to join the fun.
“The Misfits have a lot of great wrestlers, and it’s fun to see them when we’re wrestling other teams,” Brangan said. “I think it makes it more fun because I can see them at other tournaments and we can see each other at (club) practice after our school practices. The Catholic League doesn’t have a lot of teams, but the two we have are very good. And there’s a lot of schools around here that have it. It’s getting bigger.”
Brangan is proud to wrestle for the Ragdolls.
She loves it mostly because the school is still starting something new. They’re the pioneers in the Catholic League, and so far, they’re setting the perfect example.
“We want more teams, but if you want to wrestle, you have to work hard,” Brangan said. “I think it requires a lot of time and effort. It’s not something you can just do and can’t take seriously. You have to be all in for it to succeed, especially in Pennsylvania, it’s so difficult here. It’s so competitive. There are so many great wrestlers, if you want to do it, you have to work.”
Brangan works hard during high school wrestling season, but for her it never ends. She’s on the mat year-round working on her moves. She’s also working on getting stronger, and working on her cardio.
You have to be strong in all facets if you want to wrestle at the level Brangan aspires to, and she’s happy to be where she is.
That includes being the first Ryan wrestler to make the tournament on the girls side.
“It was very cool, one of the best moments,” Brangan said about earning the right to go to Hershey, where she qualified but didn’t compete after missing weight. “I was crying before I walked off the mat, I was so excited to go to states. I’m definitely going to work harder to be there and to make sure I succeed and end up on the podium.
“For the whole year, the best part was working hard and building and progressing in my career. And getting better, seeing my progress.”
She didn’t wrestle, but she did gain valuable experience and now knows what to expect next year.
“Seeing my friends and getting to support them and to take in the whole experience, not just Ryan, but my club team was great,” said Brangan, who cheered Horger on to her championship. “It was great seeing her do it.”
While Brangan is best known for her success on the mat, her success in the classroom is just as impressive.
She is a straight-A student, in three National Honor Societies and maintains a 3.87 grade point average. She’s hoping to wrestle in college. Brown and Columbia are options.
Wherever she goes, she’ll miss her parents, who have been a huge help in getting her where she is.
“Mostly my dad, he is one of my coaches, but he’s one of my biggest supporters,” Brangan said. “He gets me to practice and gives me so many opportunities to get better. The furthest I’ve gone is North Dakota, so it’s been a really fun experience going to so many states. See so many new things through the sport of wrestling.
“My mom, too, she puts so much time and effort into arranging things for me to go places. If she can’t take me, she got a double hip replacement, so she was more behind the scenes, while my dad got in the front seat. Dad would text her or she would follow it online herself.”
They’ll do the same next year.
And she has more great things planned for them to see.
“Senior year, definitely 100 wins or more and beat some of the boys records,” Brangan said “And make it to states again. And I want to go with teammates. I love doing well, but I love watching my teammates do well, too. That would make senior year perfect.”
