The dominant wrestler at the 55 kg/121 lbs. division in women's wrestling in recent seasons has been Tina George of the New York AC, who won World silver medals in both 2002 and 2003. George fell short of her goal of winning an Olympic medal, when she was defeated in the 2004 Olympic Team Trials by the surprising Tela O'Donnell, who now competes for the Sunkist Kids. Rather than walk away from the sport, George has come back with a vengeance, and seems to be wrestling as well as she can this season.    She won five straight international titles with the new rules this year, then added the gold medal at the U.S. Nationals to claim the No. 1 seed going into the World Team Trials. George has learned to use the new rules to her advantage, as it is very difficult for her opponents to win more than one period against her in any match. George has decided to make another run at the 2008 Olympic Team, and aims to win World medals as she moves towards that goal.    O'Donnell did not enter the U.S. Nationals at 55 kg this year, moving up to 59 kg/130 lbs. for the U.S. Nationals, where she placed second. Whether or not O'Donnell drops back down in weight is yet to be seen. If she does come back to 55 kg, O'Donnell is the heavy favorite to win the Challenge Tournament and give George another tough test.     The other strong force in the Challenge Tournament is Marcie Van Dusen of the Sunkist Kids, who placed second behind George at the U.S. Nationals this year. Van Dusen has been successful in recent seasons since becoming a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. She won a University World Championships gold medal last summer, and has had much success on international tours. She has the skill, experience and confidence to push George hard in every match. She will have to emerge from the Challenge Tournament to have another chance for a breakthrough win over George.    One of the top athletes this season at the division has been Sharon Jacobson of the USOEC, who captured third at the U.S. Nationals. Jacobson's only loss in Las Vegas came in the semifinals against Van Dusen, but it was not a close bout. Jacobson won a bronze medal at the New York AC Christmas International, and has shown improvement during her first year at  the Northern Michigan program.    A surprise fourth-place finish was turned in at the U.S. Nationals by high school star LeAnn Barney of Rock Wrestling. This was clearly her best national-level performance, and included three straight wins in the consolation rounds. Her best finish prior to her breakthrough in Las Vegas was a bronze medal at the 2005 FILA Junior Nationals. Barney has proven that she is tough, but will have to be ready for additional challenges in Ames.    Another high school star who has had a strong season is Chelynne Pringle of the Minnesota Storm, who was fifth at the U.S. Nationals. Pringle was second at the FILA Junior Nationals and had a win over Jacobson at the New York AC Christmas International.  Making rapid progress since joining the USOEC program this year was Amy Borgnini, who was sixth at the U.S. Nationals. Borgnini has wrestled in numerous events this year, showing improvement as she went along.     The final qualifier for the World Team Trials from the U.S. Nationals was Danyelle Hedin of the USOEC, who placed seventh. Hedin had a No. 4 seed at the U.S. Nationals, so her finish was a bit disappointing. Hedin won the 2005 FILA Junior Nationals, and has developed a reputation for being a very good upperbody wrestler with great throws. The World Team Trials will give Hedin another opportunity to test herself at this level and see how far she can go in the standings.    Earning a spot in the Challenge Tournament by winning the Rocky Mountain Regionals is Tina Pihl of the New York AC, who is a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. Pihl tried out for both the U.S. and Canadian Olympic teams, because of dual citizenship, and she made a strong run at the Canadian Trials. Pihl has made progress, but has yet to defeat one of the top stars in the weight class to this point.    As long as Tina George continues to compete and train hard, she will be a powerful force in this division. The only athlete who has shown an ability to beat George has been Olympian Tela O'Donnell, who has been competing up at 59 kg. Marcie Van Dusen has earned the right to believe that she might be the next person to defeat George in the future. A variety of young athletes are also beginning to make their mark at 55 kg, but their best chance for success may be in the future rather than right now. This weight class can be a medal winner for the USA in World competition, and the athlete who emerges from Ames will be expected to do well internationally.    2005 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS AT 55 KG/121 LBS.  1st - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) dec. Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 4-0, 2-1  3rd - Sharon Jacobson, El Cajon, Calif. (USOEC) dec. LeAnn Barney, Austin, Texas (Rock Wrestling), 7-0, 6-6  5th - Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Amy Borgnini, Terre Haute, Ind. (USOEC), 3-1, 2-2  7th - Danyelle Hedin, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC) pin Clarissa Calibuso, Waipahu, Hawaii (Missouri Valley), 0-3, 1:06    QUALIFIERS FOR 2005 WORLD TEAM TRIALS AT 55 KG/121 LBS.  U.S. Nationals Champion - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  U.S. Nationals, second place - Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals, third place - Sharon Jacobson, El Cajon, Calif. (USOEC)  U.S. Nationals, fourth place - LeAnn Barney, Austin, Texas (Rock Wrestling)  U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Chelynne Pringle, Hugo, Minn. (Minn. Storm)  U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Amy Borgnini, Terre Haute, Ind. (USOEC)  U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Dany Hedin, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC)  Rocky Mountain Regional Champion - Tina Pihl, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  Northern Plains Regional Champion - No entry at this weight class  Olympic Team member - Tela O'Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC)  Past World Team member - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  '04 Sunkist Kids International champion - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  '04 NYAC Christmas Open champion - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  '05 Dave Schultz Memorial champion - Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  International Tour medalist (within 2 yrs) -   *'03 Henri Deglane Challenge gold medalist - Patricia Miranda, New Haven, Conn. (Dave Schultz WC)  *'04 Kiev Grand Prix silver medalist - Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  *'04 World Cup silver medalist - Tela O'Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC)  *'04 Henri Deglane Challenge bronze medalist - Laura Felix, Bakersfield Calif. (Cal-State Bakersfield)