After a one-year hiatus, the La Cañada High wrestling team will return to the CIF Southern Section Division VI Dual Meet Wrestling championship tournament.
The Spartans, who are tied for 10th with Santa Paula in the final regular season poll released this week, earned one of the division's five at-large berths, as was announced by the CIF-SS office Thursday afternoon.
La Cañada (4-1), the Rio Hondo League runner-up, will face third-seeded Bay League champion West Torrance (5-1), last year's divisional runner-up, in Saturday's opening round at Redondo Union High.
First-round action begins at 11 a.m. with half of the 16 teams starting at that session and then the rest beginning approximately at 1 p.m.
The playoff announcement was somewhat expected at La Cañada, although there was still apprehension.
"We want to have a business-like approach and this was one of the goals for the season," Spartans first-year Coach Justin Luthey said. "We didn't win league to clinch the automatic berth, so we're definitely pleased to get an at-large berth."