Union Grove’s Rugg Claims SLC Title at 113 Pounds; Storbeck, Keeku Also Medal
Union Grove High School turned in a strong showing at the SLC Conference Meet in Westosha on Saturday, highlighted by Camden Rugg’s championship run at 113 pounds and podium finishes from Braxton Storbeck and Paul Keeku. Rugg powered through the bracket to secure the conference title, while Storbeck finished as runner-up at 126 and Keeku added a third-place finish at 132 to cap a productive day for the Broncos.
Rugg, wrestling at 113, opened his tournament in the quarterfinals, advancing via bye to move directly into the semifinal round. Once on the mat, he wasted little time establishing control, recording a fall over Nash Schmitz of Westosha Central in just 34 seconds to punch his ticket to the finals. The dominant semifinal win set the tone for what became one of the most decisive title bouts of the meet.
In the 113-pound championship match, Rugg overwhelmed Campton Naber of Burlington, earning a technical fall by a 17-2 margin in 1:55. The combination of an early pin in the semifinals and a lopsided technical fall in the finals underscored Rugg’s command of the weight class and delivered Union Grove a conference individual champion. His performance provided a key highlight for the Broncos in a competitive conference field.
At 126 pounds, senior Braxton Storbeck added a second-place finish after a strong march through the top half of the bracket. Storbeck opened his day in the quarterfinals with a fall over Adan Munoz of Badger/Edgewood in 2:36, using his offense to secure the pin and advance. He followed that with an equally impressive effort in the semifinals, where he defeated Grady Goetzke of Waterford by major decision, 20-9, to reach the championship bout.
Storbeck’s run ended in the finals against William Du chemin of Wilmot Union, who came away with a first-period fall in 38 seconds. Despite the setback in the title match, Storbeck’s pair of bonus-point wins—a pin and a major decision—provided important momentum for Union Grove and reinforced his status as one of the conference’s top competitors at 126.
Union Grove also picked up a podium finish at 132 pounds, where Paul Keeku battled his way to third place. Keeku’s result added valuable depth to the Broncos’ overall performance and gave the team three medalists across the lower weight classes. Together, the trio of Rugg, Storbeck and Keeku delivered a solid conference showing and set a competitive tone as Union Grove looks ahead to the upcoming postseason series.
With a conference champion at 113, a runner-up at 126 and a third-place finisher at 132, the Broncos leave the SLC Conference Meet with momentum and confidence. Union Grove’s success in Westo positions the team well for the upcoming regional and sectional tournaments, where the performances from Rugg, Storbeck and Keeku will help set the standard for the rest of the lineup.
