SF State head wrestling coach Lars Jensen stood over his bruised and fatigued crop of wrestlers during one of their final practices before leaving for the national tournament. Jensen set some pretty lofty goals.

"We have five guys going to nationals," he proudly announced. "And I expect five All-Americans."

Last weekend, the only California school competing in the NCAA Division II National Championship in Houston, Texas, returned with four All-Americans. Though one shy, the feat still made Jensen proud.

To receive the title of All-American, a wrestler must place in the top eight bracket. Of the five wrestlers SF State sent to the national tournament, four returned as All-Americans. Freshman Naveed Bagheri placed fifth in the 133-pound division, making him SF State's highest placer and youngest All-American. Junior Ben Lockett in the 141-pound weight class and heavyweight Junior Steve Franklin placed sixth in their respective divisions. Senior Curtis Schurkamp finished seventh for the 125-pound weight class.

"I thought the guys really wrestled well," Jensen said. "All the guys wrestled their hearts out. Marques Gales didn't place, but I'm proud of him too."

The Gators finished 13th overall in the tournament, improving from their 22nd finish last year. SF State also crowned its highest number of All-Americans in years, matching the four earned in 2003.

Bagheri began the tournament setting his typical high pace and turned back both his first two opponents by decision. That high pace, however, was thwarted as he lost to the eventual runner-up and previously undefeated Shane Valko of the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown by a 3-0 decision.

After being ridden out at the beginning of the match, Bagheri shot on his opponent in the third period and nearly got a takedown. The move backfired as he was taken down, which led to his defeat.

Bagheri was dominated in his next match by two-time All-American Cody Garcia of University of Nebraska-Omaha. The freshman was taken down three times before being pinned in the second period.

"I tried for a lateral throw, it's a hit-or-miss move," he said.

Bagheri acknowledged that his all-or-nothing attitude in the match was a freshman mistake.

"I have high expectations of myself," Bagheri said. "It was lame."

The loss bumped Bagheri to the fifth place match. After a slow first period, the 19-year-old took Andrew Young of Newberry College apart, earning a 10-2 major decision. The fifth place win cemented Bagheri's first All-American title.

"I definitely feel I have some unfinished business," Bagheri said. "My semifinals match, I lost. It was a heartbreaker. I'm definitely not satisfied at all."

Though Bagheri made it to the semifinals, both Lockett and Schurkamp struggled to make it to the All-American round.

"They were both 15 seconds from sitting in the popcorn line," Jensen said. "Schurkamp pulls a move and wins, and Ben gets a takedown and wins."

The previously number-one ranked Schurkamp ended his Gator career capturing his second All-American honor, going 3-2 in the tournament. Schurkamp earned a decision against his first opponent before dropping a 10-6 decision to eventual third place winner Matt Oliver of Newberry College. Schurkamp controlled the match for the first two periods. The win slipped from the Gator senior as Oliver's late surge sealed the win for the Newberry sophomore.

Schurkamp narrowly earned a decision against Northern State's Corbin Surat before losing to Andy Forstner of Minnesota State-Mankato 12-8. With another All-American certificate guaranteed even with his previous loss, Schurkamp went into the seventh place match against Payne Lint looking for a win.

He got it.

Despite being taken down early in the match, Schurkamp dominated Lint, scoring four takedowns and two near falls for the 14-6 major decision.

"Obviously, I know I could've won it easily," said Schurkamp, who wrestled with fractured bones in his right shoulder, a torn rotator cuff and a torn bicep. "I had to change my style, but it wasn't enough to take it and win it."

Though Schurkamp had defeated both the second and first place wrestlers earlier this season, it was his come-from-behind victory over Surat that steered him free from the "popcorn line."

"I was down," he said. "I went for a high-flyer maneuver. It's not a real high-percentage move, but I make it a high-percentage move." The move further damaged Schurkamp's shoulder, but earned him the All-American title for the second consecutive season.

"He took seventh in the nation with one arm," exclaimed Jensen, mentioning that Schurkamp tore his Labrum muscle against Chadron State earlier this season. "He's probably the toughest guy we've ever had. Most guys with that injury would have been done for the rest of the season. He's amazing -- and he's diabetic."

Though most of the Gators won their first matches, Lockett narrowly lost his first match but still finished sixth in his division.

"It's a bittersweet moment," Lockett said. "The first day was surreal. I was thinking, 'this is really happening. I'm going to be an All-American.' "

That surreal moment ended bitterly when Lockett lost the fifth place match. His troubles began in his first match when he dropped a narrow 5-3 decision to Steven Baker of Upper Iowa. His older brother Donald - an All-American and former Gator wrestler - calmed him down.

"He just told me, 'You know what you came here for. Just because you lost your first match doesn't mean this will be an unsuccessful tournament,'" Lockett said.

The loss set Lockett on a tear as he turned away three consecutive wrestlers, all by decision. His streak ended with a 2-0 decision loss to third place winner Mario Morgan of University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Lockett finished sixth after he dropped a 7-3 decision to Adam Whetstone of University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. "I went out on a loss, but I'm happy I'm an All-American."

SF State's big man Franklin kicked off the tournament with a 10-4 decision win over Travis Clark of University of Findlay. He lost to Nail McGrath of Gannon University in the fifth place match when he was pinned at the 2:55 mark.

Senior Marques Gales was the only Gator not to place as he lost back-to-back matches, exiting the tournament on the first day of competition. A first-timer at the national tournament, Gales earned his ticket to Texas by placing third at the conference finals last month.

"It was disappointing to go out like that," said Gales. "But I'm proud of our team." Though not satisfied in his performance, Gales focused on the positives. "I felt great when I was wrestling. I was representing more than just myself - I represented my family, my team, my school, my state. We were the only California school in the tournament."