Since wrestling against the No. 1 ranked Pac-10 school, Cal State Fullerton, the Gators have had the last three weeks to tighten up their holds, improve conditioning and heal their injuries before heading to Las Vegas, New Mexico.

The SF State wrestlers have been maneuvering for respect after a long season of travel and matches against one of the toughest non-conference schedules in the league.

After facing such tough Division I opponents including Cal State Fullerton, Stanford, UC Davis and Cal State Bakersfield, coach Lars Jensen believes that experience will prepare them for the NCAA Division II West Regional in Las Vegas on March 1.

“That’s a philosophy of our program, to compete against the best,” Jensen said. “Wrestling is different than a lot of the team sports because you compete against DI all the time and you might be outmatched, but you can beat three or four of them every time out of 10. [When] you wrestle better competition, the better you get.”

For the three 20-match winners at SF State Steve Franklin (23-10), Ben Lockett (22-15), and the nation fourth ranked 125-pounder Curtis Schurkamp (20-12), the regional will be the time when they get to show off their improvements from going against the DI wrestlers.

“Since the last match we have had some intense practices. We are really working our butts off for the regional,” Schurkamp said.

Expectations are high for the newly transferred 230-pound Franklin, who will be competing in his first regional. Jensen not only would like Franklin to gain the experience of being on the big stage in preparation for a possible shot at nationals, but also because he is only a sophomore.

“With that experience he could become a force in the years to come,” Jensen said.

Jensen expects heavyweight wrestler Steve Franklin to finish in the top three or four and very possibly end up in the finals.

Because Schurkamp is the only DII ranked wrestler at SF State, all the other wrestlers will have to beat higher ranked opponents to qualify for Nationals in Iowa. Still Jensen expects to send two or three wrestlers to the national championship in mid-March.

It goes to show the confidence Jensen has in his wrestlers ability at earning an upset.

“As long as we all stay happy and perform like were supposed to no doubt we will send a few guys to nationals,” Schurkamp said.