2004 Olympian Eric Guerrero of the Gator WC has been the dominant athlete at this division in recent years. Guerrero swept the U.S. Nationals and Olympic Team Trials last season to qualify for the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. He dropped a close match early in the tournament and was unable to place. His experience and technical skills gave him the edge over his opponents in the United States, but Guerrero has not yet won a medal at the World level.    As Guerrero has not competed since the Olympics, many believe that his career is over. Without Guerrero in the field in Las Vegas, there are many possible athletes who could step up and take over this weight division. The first name that is being mentioned is a new wrestler to the division, 2004 Olympic silver medalist Stephen Abas of the Sunkist Kids. Abas wrestled up at this weight at the Cerro Pelado Tournament in Cuba, and beat the Olympic champion Quintana from Cuba in the semifinals, only to lose in the finals to another young Cuban. As Abas was big at the lower weight, he is expected to be able to build up his strength and grow into the weight, while keeping the speed and technical skills he mastered at 55 kg.    The top returning athlete who has been active is Mike Zadick of the Hawkeye WC, who emerged as a national force last year. Zadick was second behind Guerrero at both the U.S. Nationals and Olympic Team Trials, proving that he had an edge over the other competitors last year. Zadick has had limited international experience, something that he has been expanding on tours this year. He had a rough time at the World Cup in Uzbekistan against some talented opponents, and his coaches know that he is a work in progress at this time. Zadick wrestles with energy, and seems to have a style that works well with freestyle rules.    Veteran Danny Felix of the Sunkist Kids placed third at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Felix has placed as high as second in previous U.S. National Championships. He is very consistent, but has yet to break through to claim the top spot on the national level. The first year after an Olympics offers athletes like Felix a chance to step up and establish themselves, and his background indicates that it is very possible for him.    A top young wrestler to watch is Nate Gallick of the Sunkist Kids, who placed fourth in the Olympic Team Trials and claimed a gold medal at the Sunkist Kids International. He scored a big win at the Sunkist meet, defeating veteran Canadian star Sayeed Azerbaijani in the finals. It will be interesting to see if Gallick has gained the experience to beat some of the veterans at this weight class and move up in the standings.    Ryan Lewis of the Minnesota Storm placed third at last year's U.S. Nationals and fifth at the Olympic Team Trials. He has the ability to be a force in this division if he chooses to continue wrestling. However, Lewis has not been in any big events since the Olympic Trials ended, and he may not be a factor moving forward.    A wrestler who has shown signs of success, but still needs to put it together at the big tournaments, is Michael Lightner of the Dave Schultz WC. Lightner was beaten twice at the New York AC Christmas Open and did not place, but rebounded to take a silver medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial International. For Lightner, it will be important to defeat an athlete at the level of Zadick or Felix at a national tournament, not only for his own confidence but to set the stage for future showdowns.    Celso DeAnda of Team Excel remains a threat at every tournament he enters at this weight division. He was sixth at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, and continues to work on his freestyle as a USOTC resident athlete.     A few talented young wrestlers who are making their name so far this year are Zach Roberson of the Sunkist Kids and Josh Moore of the Sunkist Kids, both coming out of the college ranks last season. Roberson beat Moore in the finals of the New York AC Christmas Open, as well as the bronze-medal match at the Dave Schultz Memorial International.  Their styles are quite different, with Roberson being more of a leg attack takedown athlete, while Moore has the ability to pop a big throw and work for the pin. Last year, Roberson was seventh at the U.S. Nationals, and he is expected to make progress in the standings this season.    If he continues to wrestle, and he always seems to continue to return, Eric Akin of the Dave Schultz WC is a veteran with talent who wins at this level. Much of his career was down at 55 kg, but Akin has reached the U.S. Nationals finals at this weight class in the past. If Akin is entered in Las Vegas, he may earn a seed, and may be in a run for the medals.    Other veteran wrestlers who would still be a factor if they continue wrestling are Yero Washington of the Sunkist Kids, Jesus Wilson of the Minnesota Storm and Jason Kutz of the U.S. Army. All have qualified for past national team rosters by placing in the top three at the World Team Trials. None of these wrestlers were able to reach their goals at last year's Olympic Trials. If these athletes show up in Las Vegas, they will offer difficult tests to any of the new young athletes seeking to get a foothold in this division.    Scott Schatzman is another veteran who has placed at the U.S. Nationals in the past and could be a factor in this division. He has wrestled already this year, an indication that he still has goals in freestyle.      There are a number of other young athletes who are making promising showings in recent Senior-level freestyle events who are worth watching. They include Angel Cejudo of the Sunkist Kids. Kevin Black of the Dave Schultz WC, Jesse Brock of Bronco WC and Mike Kulczycki of the Cliff Keen WC.     There may also be a few college athletes, who, if they enter, could crack into contention on the national level. The NCAA finalists at 133 pounds, Travis Lee of Cornell and Shawn Bunch of Edinboro, have shown strong freestyle skills in the past and could potentially break into the All-American rounds at the U.S. Nationals .    This weight division will probably have a new champion, if Guerrero remains in street clothes. If Stephen Abas has made the move up in weight, his past success makes him an instant favorite. However, he will face an entire new field of competitors, many with the skills and abilities to make him earn their respect on the mat. This division should be worth watching closely, and expect some upsets and close matches.    2004 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS  1st - Eric Guerrero, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  dec. Mike Zadick, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) , 3-1  3rd - Ryan Lewis, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Danny Felix, Charlottesville, Va. (Sunkist Kids), 3-0  5th - Yero Washington, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) inj. dft. over Jesus Wilson, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)  7th - Zac Roberson, Ames, Iowa (Cyclone WC) dec. Scott Schatzman, Columbia, Mo. (Mo. Elite), 3-0    THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR APRIL 1, 2005  1. Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)   2. Mike Zadick, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)  3. Nate Gallick, Tucson, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)  4. Danny Felix, Charlottesville, Va. (Sunkist Kids)  5. Michael Lightner, Norman, Okla. (Dave Schultz WC)   6. Celso DeAnda, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Team Excel)  7. Zach Roberson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  8. Josh Moore, Kent, Ohio (Sunkist Kids)   9. Angel Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  10. Scott Schatzman, New York, N.Y.