Two-time Olympian Kerry McCoy of the New York AC has been the dominant wrestler in this division for many years. His best finish was a World silver medal in New York City in 2003. After falling short of the medal rounds at the Olympic Games in Athens, Greece last summer, McCoy indicated that his competitive days were over. He has not competed since, although he has remained active in freestyle as a coach. McCoy had the ability to defeat top international wrestlers using speed, strength and technique, providing a strong anchor to the U.S. lineup for five straight seasons and six of the last seven. The only year he was not No. 1 was 1999, when Stephen Neal won the division and then won a World gold medal. Neal is now a starting offensive lineman for the Super Bowl champion New England Patriots of the National Football League.    This opens an opportunity for veteran Tolly Thompson of the Sunkist Kids, who lost to McCoy in the finals of the Olympic Team Trials. Thompson has been near the top of the national standings for many years. He won the U.S. Nationals in 1998, but was injured on a foreign tour and was unable to compete in the World Team Trials that year. Thompson has considerable international experience and has beaten many top foreign competitors. He was upset early in the 2004 U.S. Nationals and came back to place third, then earned a spot in the Olympic Trials finals with a big win over young star Steve Mocco of the New York AC in the Challenge Tournament. This year, Thompson has wrestled often, looking to get an edge in a season where he has a great opportunity to become a World Team member. He has the size and skill to     Last year, Mocco took an Olympic redshirt season from the Univ. of Iowa, where he was a NCAA champion, and concentrated completely on freestyle. He reached the U.S. Nationals finals against McCoy, but was unable to execute any offense in the defeat. At the Olympic Trials, Thompson was also able to control the action in the match against Mocco. Since then, Mocco transferred to Oklahoma State, where he won a second NCAA title and won the Dan Hodge Trophy as the top college wrestler. He has been working on expanding his attack, which has been based upon power, pressure and some sweet footsweeps. Mocco's has set a priority of success at the World and Olympic level, and fully believes he can reach his goals right now.    After Thompson and Mocco, the field drops off considerably, in terms of experience in Senior-level freestyle and prestige within the wrestling community. However, even though the athletes are not marquee names, some have the potential to develop into top athletes that could have an impact on the national program.     Kellan Fluckiger of the Sunkist Kids placed fourth at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, and was sixth at the U.S. Nationals a year ago. Kevin Hoy of the U.S. Air Force placed fifth in the Olympic Trials, and Pat Cummins of the New York AC placed sixth. All three had good college careers, and have decided to continue on in freestyle. Only Cummins has competed so far this season, however, with a disappointing eighth place finish at the Sunkist Kids International. All three are expected to be a factor, however, if they join the field in Las Vegas.    Winning a gold medal at the Sunkist Kids International this year was Mike Faust of the Sunkist Kids, who took the 2004 season off and trained at the Olympic Training Center full-time in freestyle. Faust transferred to Virginia Tech and competed during the college season. The U.S. Nationals will be his first freestyle action since October.    A pair of veterans would be expected to be in the medal rounds if they enter, Angelo Borzio of the New York AC and Brian Keck of the New York AC. Both have placed in previous U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials events, and would a tremendous edge in experience over the new young contenders. Keck was injured this fall and may not be ready for competition yet. Borzio, a Div. I wrestling coach at East Stroudsburg, will have to decide if he still has competitive desires.    Michael Irving, who was a college star in the NAIA for Cumberland College, made his first major freestyle success with a silver medal at the Sunkist Kids International. Also placing third at Sunkist Kids International was Billy Blunt of the Sunkist Kids, who has had previous success in freestyle, including a fourth-place finish at the U.S. Nationals last season. Blunt should be expected to     Some of the challengers in the Senior scene in freestyle at this division are Mark Knauer of the Cyclone WC, Mark Wallbeck of the Sunkist Kids and Cain Velasquez of the Sunkist Kids.  All were placewinners at the Sunkist Kids International, and have the potential to challenge for a medal placement at the U.S. Nationals.    Two wrestlers who qualified for the Olympic Team Trials last spring, but have not competed in freestyle since then, are Justin Moody of Bronco WC and Max Lossen of the Michigan State WC. Moody was the athlete who surprised and pinned Thompson at the U.S. Nationals last year in the early rounds.    A few other wrestlers who competed at the U.S. Nationals last year and could make an impact include Leonce Crump of the Sunkist Kids and Tony Walters of the Gator WC.    The champion at the University Nationals this year was Israel Silva of Chattanooga, and the runner-up was Ty Watterson of Orange Crush. With the lack of depth in the field expected in Las Vegas at this division, both would be worth watching if they choose to enter the U.S. Nationals.    Likewise, if some of the NCAA All-Americans from this year, such as runner-up Cole Konrad of Minnesota, decided to enter, they also have the potential to work their way into All-American status with a few good wins.    With Kerry McCoy on the sidelines coaching, veteran Tolly Thompson and college star Steve Mocco become the clear favorites to meet in the finals of this division. Thompson has wrestled much more freestyle than Mocco since their last meeting, but both would be pumped up for another showdown. The rest of the field is up for grabs, with veterans and newcomers all jostling for position in the early rounds. There could be a few surprise All-Americans in this division.    2004 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS  1st - Kerry McCoy, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC) dec. Steve Mocco, N. Bergen, N.J. (New York AC) , 3-0  3rd -Tolly Thompson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) inj. dft. over Billy Blunt, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)  5th - Kevin Hoy, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force) dec. Kellan Fluckiger, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 6-5  7th - Justin Moody, Boise, Idaho (Bronco) inj dft. over Brian Keck, Cleveland, Ohio (New York AC)    THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR APRIL 1, 2005  1. Tolly Thompson (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Sunkist Kids)  2. Steve Mocco, N. Bergen, N.J. (New York AC)  3. Mike Faust, Baltimore, Md. (Sunkist Kids)  4. Kellan Fluckiger, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)  5. Michael Irving, Fla. (Unattached)  6. Pat Cummins, State College, Pa. (New York AC)  7. Billy Blunt, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)  8. Angelo Borzio, East Stroudsburg, Pa. (New York AC)  9. Mark Knauer, Ames, Iowa (Cyclone WC)  10. Cain Velasquez, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids