All along coach Lars Jensen was expecting to send four wrestlers to NCAA Division II National Championships after the NCAA Division II West Regional on Saturday March 1, but he was pleasantly surprised to see a graduating senior and a true freshman in the mix.

Curtis Schurkamp, ranked No. 4 in the nation in the 125-pound weight class, 20-match winner heavyweight Steve Franklin, senior Alecxis Lara, and true freshman Josh Nolan all earned a trip to the nationals by placing in the top four of their respective weight divisions at regionals.

“For sure I thought Schurkamp and Franklin would make it to nationals, but there were definitely a couple surprises,” Jensen said.

Lara, who has been battling injuries all year, took fourth place in the 184-pound weight class after going 2-2 at the regional. He won his first match, a 12-0 major decision, then lost his second match only to come back and win the third match 6-4 to clinch a spot at nationals.

“He has all the talent in the world, all the technique in the world. He showed up and wrestled well enough, so he’ll get to go to nationals,” Jensen said of Lara. “It’s gratifying. Everybody wants to go to nationals, especially as a senior, and he made it.”

Nolan punched his ticket to the nationals by fighting back after losing to the No. 1 seed in the first match. In the consolation quarterfinal round, he pinned his opponent in one minute and 18 seconds but lost 9-8 in the next match. In the fifth-place match he won by a close decision, 7-6, and with an early pin in the fourth-place match he qualified for nationals.

Nolan became one of only five true freshmen, an athlete who never red-shirted to ever make it to nationals in the program’s history.

“That’s a pretty crazy stat, but it shows the hard work is paying off,” Nolan said.

Schurkamp came into the regional tournament as the only high-seeded wrestler on the SF State squad, and proved why by winning his first two matches by decision, 2-1 and 4-2. However, he lost the championship match to Adam State’s Arsenia Barksdale in an 8-2 decision.

Franklin posted a 2-1 record, and won his first two matches in dominating style, 8-3 and 4-0 respectively. But the junior heavyweight fell to three-time All-American and two-time national champion Tervel Dlagnev.

Even though Schurkamp and Franklin, both juniors, lost a match at regionals, Jensen said both have gained immeasurable amount of experience to use next season as seniors.

“I’m not worried about Schurkamp or Franklin. These guys know what it takes and they will do what they have to do at nationals,” Jensen said.

Less than two weeks remain until the trip to Iowa, and as the four wrestlers will now go back to practice and try to work out the kinks in their techniques in hopes of being named as an all-American selection.

“We’re just going to work on the little things because in wrestling that’s where you win or lose the match,” Nolan said.