Princeton girls make IKWF state history

Four Tiger Town Tanglers qualified for the IKWF state tournament in Rockford Friday, including Ty Taylor, from left, sisters T.J. and Annie Dumyahn, and Daniel Rucinski. The Dumyahns are the first pair of girls to qualify for the IKWF state. Taylor is a four-time qualifier. (BCR Photo/Kevin Hieronymus)

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DIXON -- It will be ladies day in the Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation state meet in Rockford this weekend. Sisters Annie and T.J. Dumyahn of Princeton's Tiger Town Tanglers made IKWF history by becoming the first pair of females and sisters to qualify for state from the same team. Both secured third-place finishes to join TTT stalwart Ty Taylor, a four-time state qualifier, and first-timer Daniel Rucinski in Rockford. "The excitement on the mat, especially with the two sisters, was great. The whole gym was behind them to keep them moving. It came down to the wire for both of them and when they both won, the entire place erupted," Tiger Town coach Tim Taylor said. The sisters said it was "cool" getting all the attention from everyone, almost being a little scary. "I didn't know we were that popular," T.J. Dumyahn said. "You think that stuff only happens in the Olympics," Annie Dumyahn said. Annie, 14, got into wrestling at age eight just to have something to do "instead of sitting home reading books." T.J. got back into wrestling this season after taking two years off because she was bored going to tournaments to watch Annie and "not doing anything." They both have found it to be a blow to a young boy's ego to get beat by a girl. "I try my best not to make the boys cry," T.J. said. Taylor, 14, who started wrestling at age 4, was the only Tangler to qualify with little drama. He won the the Senior's 108-pound title in a breeze by a 12-0 shutout. "Ty wrestled the way we expected him to wrestle and pretty much walked through the brackets with his ability," Tim Taylor said. The three other Tanglers made their bid much more exciting. Rucinski went into overtime to secure third place at 108 pounds in Novice (11-12s) with a 4-2 decision. It brought his father, Dave, to tears. "It was so great to watch Dave Rucinski get so emotional. Both of them put their heart and soul into the sport," Tim Taylor said. The Dumyahn sisters also qualified with third-place finishes. T.J. was down 6-1, but won by fall with 22 seconds remaining at 101 pounds in Novice. Annie beat the same opponent as last year for third place, this time by fall in 1:48 at 101 pounds in the Senior Division to earn her second state berth. "We had so much fun," Tim Taylor said. "All the kids wrestled as well as they've wrestled all year. I think they're peaking at the right time. Their motivation is unbelievable and they listen so well. That's why they won. They paid attention and made it happen. It makes a nice team when the coach can see something and they executed it."