Clearly, the winningest wrestler in U.S. women's wrestling history since the sport was established worldwide has been Kristie Marano of the New York AC, who has seven career World medals, including two World titles. Marano has won her medals at a few different weight classes, starting way back when she was a high school student. The weight at which she won both of her World titles is at the current 67 kg division. This is the weight class where Marano won a gold medal this year at the U.S. Nationals, and enters the World Team Trials as the No. 1 seed.    There is no guarantee that Marano will compete here in Ames, however. For the last few seasons, Marano wrestled most of the time down at 63 kg, where she had an intense rivalry with Sara McMann of the Sunkist Kids, who went on to win an Olympic silver medal. Last year, Marano beat McMann in the U.S. Nationals, but did not make weight at the Olympic Trials, forcing her all the way up to 72 kg in Indianapolis. After recoving from an injury, Marano is back in top form and has choices where she can compete.    Marano has consistently been able to beat talented Katie Downing of the Sunkist Kids at this division, including a win in the 2005 U.S. Nationals finals. In both 2002 and 2003, Marano defeated Downing in Special Wrestle-offs at this non-Olympic weight class to make the U.S. World Team. Downing has impressive achievements, including national titles, a World Cup gold medal and many other international medals. This year, Downing has captured the New York AC Christmas Open, the Gilbert Schaub Open in France and the Dave Schultz Memorial.    She competes best at 67 kg, after moving up to 72 kg in 2004 for a run at an Olympic team spot.   Last year, after the Olympic Trials, Downing won a Wrestle-off to earn the No. 1  at 67 kg for the season. She continues to train hard, improve her skills, and work for her chance to compete for the USA at the World Championships. Downing is working hard to make this her year to reach that goal.    The 2004 U.S. Nationals champion at this division is past Junior World champion Ali Bernard of the Univ. of Regina. Bernard moved up a weight class for the U.S. Nationals and placed second at 72 kg. She was also at higher weight classes all year competing on the Canadian college circuit. However, she has made it down to 67 kg this year, so there is a possibility that she might come back down and test herself at this division once again.    College star Heather Martin of the New York AC was third at the U.S. Nationals this year, her first season with the Cumberland College team. In 2004, Martin was second at the U.S. Nationals, in a division in which some of the other athletes had switched into Olympic weight classes. Even though Martin dropped one spot in the national standings from 2004, she is doing very well in a stronger field of competitors.  Martin is expected to be a challenger for U.S. teams for many years, and should only get better over time.    Placing fourth in Las Vegas was Martin's college teammate from Cumberland College, Shelly Ruberg, who has been paying her dues in recent seasons by wrestling in many tournaments and doing well. She was second at the Sunkist Kids International this fall, and has won medals in tournaments in Canada as well.    Ku'u Johnson, a  member of the USOEC resident program at Northern Michigan, placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals this year. She has been very active on the national scene this season, also competing in a number of major age-group events.     College wrestler Andrea Hale of Lassen College and U.S. Air Force athlete Laura McDonald were the other athletes who placed at the U.S. Nationals and qualified to wrestle in Ames. Hale has done well competing against college athletes, and is making progress on the Senior level. McDonald is new to the U.S. Senior circuit, and currently gaining the experience necessary to improve. Joining the field through the Regional tournaments was veteran Ashley Sword of the New York AC, this year's University Nationals champion. Sword has been a USOTC resident athlete in Colorado Springs, but has had a number of injuries that have challenged her in recent seasons. She may drop down to 63 kg, but has wrestled up at 67 kg many times in the past.    This weight class belongs to Kristie Marano, as long as she chooses to compete here and until somebody beats her. The person who has the best chance, and highest incentive, to defeat Marano is talented Katie Downing, who is seeking her first World Team. Young Heather Martin is one of the emerging stars who are expected to build the future for Team USA. Unless there are some new individuals who change weights and move into this division, the top three athletes from Las Vegas are expected to dominate the rest of the field at this division.    2005 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS AT 67 KG/147.75 LBS.  1st - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) dec. Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 2-0  3rd - Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (New York AC) pin Shelly Ruberg, Williamsburg, Ky. (Cumberland College), 6-0, 1:15  5th - K'uu Johnson, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC) dec. Andrea Hale, Chicago, Ill. (Lassen College), 5-1, 2-0  7th - Laura McDonald, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force) won inj. dft. over Kelly Branham, Apache Junction, Ariz. (Missouri Valley)    QUALIFIERS FOR 2005 WORLD TEAM TRIALS AT 67 KG/147.75 LBS.  U.S. Nationals Champion - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  U.S. Nationals, second place - Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals, third place - Heather Martin, Wellington, Ohio (New York AC)  U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Shelly Ruberg, Williamsburg, Ky. (Cumberland College)  U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Ku'u Johnson, Honolulu, Hawaii (USOEC)  U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Andrea Hale, Chicago, Ill. (Lassen College)  U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Laura McDonald, Colorado Springs, Colorado (U.S. Air Force)  Rocky Mountain Regional Champion - Ashley Sword, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  Northern Plains Regional Champion - No entry at this weight class  Past World Team member - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  '04 Sunkist Kids International champion - None, foreign champion  '04 NYAC Christmas Open champion - Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  '05 Dave Schultz Memorial champion - Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  International Tour medalist (within 2 yrs) -  *'03 World Cup gold medalist - Kristie Marano, Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC  *'05 Gilbert Schaub Open gold medalist - Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)