Three Bruins punch ticket to sectional

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EUREKA — Three Bruins kept their wrestling postseason alive Saturday at the Eureka 1A Regional, as senior Dan Rucinski (23-3) captured the 160-pound title, junior Dave Young posted a silver medal effort in the 135-pound bracket, and senior Steve Puhr claimed third at 152 pounds. The Academy trio will next head to this weekend’s sectional competition in Clinton.

Rucinski, the first Bruin to earn three sectional berths during a career at the Academy, topped Illinois Valley Central junior Daniel Hummer with a 7-0 decision win in Saturday’s finals to win the 160-pound championship.

Young (14-12) claimed second in the 135-pound weight class, succumbing to a pin from Peoria Manual senior Desmond Redden with only 14 seconds left in their title bout.

Puhr was able to secure a pinfall victory over Putnam County’s Jimmy Torres only 1:17 into their third-place contest in the 152 pound division.

Puhr’s younger brother Nick, a freshman, dropped his third-place contest by pinfall in the 130-pound division to Calvin Riggs of El Paso, junior Tim Steinz also picked up a fourth-place finish competing in the 145-pound weight class.

The Bruins finished fifth in team standings out of eight schools, with 69 points. The host Hornets claimed the team title with a tally of 214.5.

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