Four Atascadero High School wrestlers placed in the top nine in their weight classes Saturday at the CIF-Southern Section Masters Meet and will head to the CIF State Championships Friday and Saturday in Bakersfield.

Michael Clemmensen finished ninth at 103 pounds to advance. He lost his first match of the tournament and then won five of his next six matches. He pinned Christian Bettencourt of Arroyo High School in 4:50 in the ninth-place match, advancing to the state meet and ending Bettencourt’s season.

Clemmensen will face Victor Trujillo of Bella Vista High School in the first round at the state meet.

At 135 pounds, Josh Lowe placed fourth. Lowe won his first match, lost his second, then won five in a row to advance to the third-place match.

Lowe will face Scott Chessin of Los Gatos in the first round at the state meet.

Paul Woodman placed ninth at 140 pounds to advance to the state meet. He won his first match, then was pinned by Jorge Gutierrez of Santa Ana in the second round. Woodman won three of his next four matches to make it to the ninth-place match, where he once again faced Gutierrez. This time, Woodman took a 4-1 decision to punch his ticket to Bakersfield and send Gutierrez home.

Woodman will face Mitchell Maya of Brawley in the opening round at the state meet.

Elijah Jackson placed fifth at 145 pounds to advance to the state meet. He won his first match, then lost his second match before winning five of his next six to make it to the fifth-place match, where he beat Cody Smith from Santiago of Corona, who placed first at the same CIF meet a week earlier that Jackson placed third.

Jackson will face Josh Dye of Central Valley High School in the first round at the state meet.

The meet starts Friday, March 5 at Rabobank Arena in Bakersfield.

For the complete article see the 03-03-2010 issue.

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