The dominant athlete in this division for the last four years has been Stephen Abas of the Sunkist Kids, who claimed the No. 1 spot for four straight years. Abas earned a silver medal at the 2004 Olympic Games with a stunning performance, his best international effort to date. Rather than retire, or even think about it, Abas immediately said that his goal was to win the Olympic gold medal in Beijing, China in 2008.    The question about Abas is what weight will he compete in? Already this year, Abas has wrestled up a division at 132 pounds, and beat the 2004 Olympic champion Quintana from Cuba at that weight. Abas did drop down to 121 pounds for the Freestyle World Cup in Uzbekistan and dominated the field, winning a gold medal with five dominant matches. Many expect that may be the last time that Abas goes down to this division, but with wrestlers, you can never be sure if such a move is forever.    With Abas up in weight, the top athlete in the field is 1998 World champion and 2000 Olympic silver medalist Sammie Henson of the Sunkist Kids. Henson placed second behind Abas at both the U.S. Nationals and the Olympic Team Trials last year. He has been on a torrid win streak this year, winning a number of international gold medals already this season. Although Henson is starting to be considered "older" at this division, his experience, intensity and skill makes him a world-class star at the level of anybody else from any nation.    Teague Moore of the Gator WC placed third in the Olympic Team Trials and was seconds away from beating Henson in the Challenge Tournament there, only to lose the match in an amazing final flurry. Moore has not wrestled this year, and seems to be concentrating on his work career and coaching. Placing fourth in the Olympic Trials was Jeremy Hunter of the New York AC, who has also not been on the mats this year. Should he return, he will need to show that he is ready for a deep field of challengers.    The next "active" wrestler in the field is Matt Azevedo of the Sunkist Kids, who was fifth in the National Team rankings. Azevedo won the Sunkist Kids International and the Dave Schultz Memorial this year, and has consistently improved since his college career has ended. His potential is vast, and he is starting to come into his own technically. Many expect that Azevedo may be the athlete who can push Henson this season and turn this division into a true battle.    A talented newcomer to this level of wrestling is Luke Eustice of the Hawkeye WC, who was second at the New York AC International and third at the Dave Schultz Memorial. His Iowa Hawkeye background, as well as considerable freestyle training during his development career, makes him a force to watch.    The talent coming out of the college ranks in Nick Simmons of the Michigan WC, who placed sixth in the Olympic Trials and eighth at the U.S. Nationals last year while taking an Olympic redshirt year from Michigan State. Simmons just completed an All-American season in college, and will have to make a fast transition to the international style. The good news is that his wrestling is very freestyle oriented, so the change should not be difficult.    Veteran Mike Mena of the New York AC remains a big threat at this division, and has the potential to reach the final rounds at the national level. Although he has not been active early in the season, he has a great workout partner in new NCAA champion Joe Dubuque in the wrestling room at Indiana. If Mena gets prepared well, he could do some damage this year, because of his experience and savvy.    Nobody overlooks firecracker T.J. Hill of the Old School WC, who gives up size in every match at this weight class but often beats quality opponents. For a time, it looked as if FILA was going to add a 50 kg division, where Hill would have been the national favorite. Hill is a talented and intense wrestler who has world class abilities, including a Junior World title, but struggles against some of the larger athletes in this division.    Tim Dernlan of the Dave Schultz WC is a veteran who places often at the U.S. Nationals and has held some high national rankings at this division. He has not been on the mats in competition lately, but is a college coach who continues to train and should be ready for Las Vegas.    In the year after an Olympics, there is often a new crop of young wrestlers who make a move on the national level. Competitors such as 2004 NCAA champion Jason Powell of the Gator WC or Jeremy Mendoza of the Sunkist Kids have a chance to get established early in this Olympic cycle. Powell was fifth at the Dave Schultz Memorial, losing to Eustice in the bronze-medal match, but he should be ready for action this time around.    Others who qualified for the Olympic Trials last year included veteran Eric Albarracin of the U.S. Army, college wrestler Mark McKnight of the Angry Fish WC and Angel Alegre of Navy SOPAC.     This could be a year that we see some college wrestlers, or even a high school star, crack through for a placement at the U.S. Nationals. There have been years where the draw, and some inspired wrestling, has brought along young wrestlers in a hurry.     With Abas in the field, he is a strong favorite. However, many do not expect him to be at this division. That puts Henson in the driver's seat, looking to return to the kind of dominance that he had over this weight class during the 1997-2000 Olympic cycle. The battle may be over who will emerge as the top challenger for Henson. It is one thing to make the U.S. Nationals finals, a great achievement. It will be something much more to beat a World champion who has been wrestling well in recent months.    2004 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS  1st - Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Sammie Henson, Highland Mills, N.Y. (Sunkist Kids), 3-0  3rd -Teague Moore, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) dec. Matt Azevedo, Grover Beach, Calif. (Sunkist Kids), 3-1  5th -Jeremy Hunter, Champaign, Ill. (New York AC) inj. dft. over Mike Mena, Bloomington, Ind. (New York AC)  7th - Tim Dernlan, State College, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC) dec. Nick Simmons, Williamston, Mich. (Michigan WC), 8-5    THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR APRIL 1, 2005  1. Sammie Henson, St. Louis, Mo. (Sunkist Kids)  2. Matt Azevedo, San Luis Obispo, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)   3. Luke Eustice, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)   4. Jeremy Hunter, Champaign, Ill. (New York AC)  5. Nick Simmons, Williamston, Mich. (Michigan WC)  6. Mike Mena, Bloomington, Ind. (New York AC)  7. Tim Dernlan, State College, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC)  8. T.J. Hill, Farmington, Mo. (Old School WC)  9. Jason Powell, Lincoln, Neb. (Gator WC)  10. Jeremy Mendoza, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)