Remember the high school wrestler who was forced to cut off his dreadlocks before a match back in December?
Yeah, well, Andrew Johnson just placed 3rd in his district -- qualifying for the prestigious regional championships ... which means he's one step closer to making the N.J. state tourney!!!
Johnson's story made national headlines back in December when a referee told him his hairstyle violated high school wrestling rules ... and he needed to chop his locks or forfeit the match.
The 16-year-old junior reluctantly agreed to cut his hair -- and still won the match -- but he was visibly devastated.