In 2004, Cael Sanderson of the United States reached the highest level of achievement in international wrestling, claiming a gold medal at 84 kg/185 lbs. at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. It was the peak performance of an amazing career, for an athlete who became a national sports hero by going undefeated and winning four NCAA titles for Iowa State Univ. Sanderson reached this honor at a young age, with the potential to return for additional major achievements ahead of him. However, Sanderson has not competed since his triumph in Athens, and he is not expected to compete at the year's World Team Trials, even though they are being held on his home mats at Iowa State.    A new star has emerged at this division, as the exciting Mo Lawal of the Gator WC won the gold medal at the U.S. Nationals. He was No. 3 last year during the Olympic year, taking bronze medals at both the U.S. Nationals and Olympic Team Trials, losing to Sanderson at both events. Lawal has continued to improve, and put together an impressive performance in Las Vegas, defeating 2004 Olympic Team Trials runner-up Lee Fullhart in the finals. Lawal has earned the right to be No. 1 going into the World Team Trials, waiting for just one athlete to emerge to battle him in the best-of-three series.     Many believe that athlete will be Fullhart, who was second behind Sanderson at last year's Olympic Team Trials in an epic battle for the team spot. Fullhart beat Sanderson in the 2004 U.S. Nationals finals, as well as a few other times during recent seasons. Although his loss to Lawal was disappointing to Fullhart, the score of the match was 1-0, 1-1, 2-1, a very close battle. Fullhart has extensive international experience. You can count on Fullhart to be in great shape and be both technically prepared and mentally tough during the most important matches.     A new young talent has emerged in Tyler Nixt of the Hawkeye WC, who placed a strong third at the U.S. Nationals and has been doing well in freestyle in recent seasons. Nixt comes out of the strong Univ. of Iowa program, and has been paying his dues on the freestyle circuit. His only loss in Las Vegas was to Lawal. Nixt won a gold at the University Nationals this year, but did not enter the University World Team Trials.     Veteran Clint Wattenberg of the New York AC placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals, and won the New York AC International in the fall. He also dropped a close match to Fullhart in the finals of the Sunkist Kids International. He has shown steady progress in his freestyle skills, and placed fourth in the Olympic Trials last year. If he is wrestling well, Wattenberg has a chance to step up during the Challenge Tournament and make a name for himself.    Andy Hrovat of the New York AC has been steadily improving at this weight division, wrestling in many international events and winning silver medals at the New York AC Christmas International and the Dave Schultz Memorial this season. He lost a three-period match to Wattenberg during the U.S. Nationals, and is capable of moving higher in the standings with a strong performance in Ames.    Veteran Aaron Simpson of the Sunkist Kids qualified for the World Team Trials by placing sixth at the U.S. Nationals. In the past, Simpson has reached a No. 3 ranking on Freestyle Team USA. He placed fifth at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials last year. Simpson has extensive freestyle experience, and will be a difficult match for anybody in the Challenge Tournament.    David Bertolino of the Cyclone WC, who competes for host Iowa State, was able to grab the final qualifying spot in the World Team Trials with his seventh-place finish in the standings in Las Vegas. It would be a surprising if Bertolino was able to improve his place in the standings in Ames, but he may have some of that home mat magic by competing in his college home gym.    There is great anticipation for the college stars who compete at this division and will be expected to be in the field in Ames. Wrestlers from two different weight classes at the NCAA Tournament could be entries in this division. From one division, Chris Pendleton and Ben Askren were NCAA finalists, and at the next higher division, Greg Jones and Tyler Baier were NCAA finalists.     The Pendleton vs. Askren rivalry included wins by Pendleton in the last two NCAA finals. In May, Pendleton also beat Askren in the finals match at the University World Team Trials in Colorado Springs. Askren has done more freestyle wrestling, and was also a  Northern Plains Regionals champion this year. Both of these athletes have tremendous ability and a great future, and could do some damage right now on the Senior level.    Jones, who wrestles for the Sunkist Kids, just completed a stellar college career, winning three NCAA titles for the Univ. of West Virginia. He has shown strong freestyle capabilities, winning a bronze medal  at the 2004 Sunkist Kids International with only a loss to Fullhart. He was the first athlete signed to the new Sunkist Kids Training Center at WVU and has decided to train fulltime for a shot at the next Olympics. Jones did not compete at the U.S. Nationals, but could make some noise if he enters in Ames. Baier has not been on the national freestyle scene much, but is a successful college wrestler who would add depth to this division.    Qualifying through the Rocky Mountain Regionals is veteran Nate Patrick, who has been competitive at this weight class in recent seasons. He was eighth at U.S. Nationals, which did not qualify him, but the win at the Regional gets him in the field. The only others eligible to compete are Sanderson and 2001 World silver medallist Brandon Eggum, neither who have wrestled since last summer.     This division has an intriguing new national champion in Lawal, as well as a proven international talent in Fullhart. The rest of the field is looking to make a step up in performance to compete at this level, with athletes such as Wattenberg, Nixt, Hrovat and Simpson seeking to establish themselves. College stars Pendleton, Jones and Askren are hoping that they can move the future along quickly and make an impact immediately. This should be an excellent weight class to watch in Ames.    2005 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS AT 84 KG/185 LBS.  1st - Muhammed Lawal, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) dec. Lee Fullhart, Blacksburg, Va. (Gator WC), 1-0, 1-1, 2-1  3rd - Tyler Nixt, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) dec. Clint Wattenburg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC), 1-0, 1-0  5th - Andy Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC) dec. Aaron Simpson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)   7th -  David Bertolino,  Mount Pleasant, Ohio (Cyclone WC) dec. Nate Patrick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 2-1, 3-2    QUALIFIERS FOR 2005 WORLD TEAM TRIALS AT 84 KG/185 LBS.  U.S. Nationals Champion - Mo Lawal, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  U.S. Nationals, second place - Lee Fullhart, Blacksburg, Va. (Gator WC)  U.S. Nationals, third place - Tyler Nixt, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)  U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)  U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Andew Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Aaron Simpson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals, seventh place - David Bertolino, Mount Pleasant, Ohio (Cyclone WC)  Rocky Mountain Regional Champion - Nathan Patrick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Unattached)  Northern Plains Regional Champion - Ben Askren, Hartland, Wis. (Missouri)  Olympic Team member - Cael Sanderson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  Past World Team member - Brandon Eggum, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minn. Storm)  '04 Sunkist Kids International champion - Lee Fullhart, Blacksburg, Va. (Gator WC)  '04 NYAC Christmas Open champion - Clint Wattenberg, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)  '05 Dave Schultz Memorial champion - Joe Williams, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  International Tour medalist (within 2 yrs) -   *'03 Henri Deglane Challenge bronze medalist - Lee Fullhart, Blacksburg, Va. (Gator WC);  *'04 Ivan Yarygan Memorial International silver medalist - Cael Sanderson, Ames Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  *'04 Boutiatyr Grand Prix gold medalist - Andew Hrovat, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)