The United States is determined to come back strong this season after a disappointing performance at the 2010 World Championships.

The return to the mat of 2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo and 2008 Olympian Steve Mocco has provided a big boost to the freestyle program.

2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev has continued to improve and progress. He looks poised to make a run at a World medal this year, but is in a tough weight class in the U.S. at heavyweight.

2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert also has looked strong this year and is ready to make a run at his second medal.

Mocco, Dlagnev and Herbert are among the top wrestlers expected to compete at the U.S. Open in Cleveland.

Olympian and World silver medalist Mike Zadick also is expected to be back.

NCAA champion Jordan Burroughs of Nebraska is ready to make a splash in freestyle this season as well.

The U.S. is looking to crown its first World champion in freestyle since Bill Zadick won Worlds in 2006. This is a big year with the World Championships serving as a qualifier for the 2012 Olympics Games.

55 KG/121 LBS.

Henry Cejudo has not competed since winning the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China, but he’s only 24 years old and he’s hungry to win another World-level medal.

Cejudo returned to training in January and has trained with the U.S. on tours in Cuba and Belarus. Cejudo may not make his return until the U.S. World Team Trials in June.

Obe Blanc is the top returning finisher in this class. He reached the quarterfinals at the 2010 Worlds. Blanc has continued to improve. Blanc recently finished third at the Cerro Pelado International in Cuba.

Veteran Nick Simmons is expected to contend in this class. Simmons was second in the 2009 World Team Trials and is a dangerous wrestler who can pile up points in a hurry.

Angel Escobedo is ranked second in the U.S., but has just returned to training after suffering a shoulder injury. Escobedo may not be back until the World Team Trials in June.

Past Iowa All-American Daniel Dennis is ranked third in the U.S. and is another wrestler to keep an eye on.

Sam Hazewinkel, a past National Team member in Greco-Roman wrestling, also has wrestled well this season in freestyle. He placed second in the Alexander Medved International and third in the Cerro Pelado International.

Past NCAA champion Troy Nickerson also is back wrestling and is another wrestler who could be in the hunt.

Dan Mitcheff placed fourth in the 2010 U.S. Open. Mark McKnight also could be a factor here. NCAA All-American Brandon Precin was seventh in this event last year.

60 KG/132 LBS.

2006 World silver medalist Mike Zadick made his third World Team last year, but lost in the first round at the World Championships. Zadick has not competed this season, but has been training full-time and is a top contender to win the U.S. Open.

2009 World Team member Shawn Bunch has had a strong season, winning the Medved tournament in Belarus and the Hargobind in Canada. He and Zadick likely will battle for the title in Cleveland. Bunch beat Zadick in the finals of the 2010 U.S. Open.

Past University World silver and bronze medalist Reece Humphrey may be ready for a breakthrough in this class. He placed fourth in the New York AC International and fifth in the Dave Schultz Memorial this season. He took fourth in the 2010 U.S. Open.

Two-time NCAA champion Matt Valenti won the Sunkist Kids International this season and is another top contender. Valenti was sixth in this event last year.

Past NCAA champions Coleman Scott and Derek Moore also are expected to be in the mix. Scott was third in this event last year.

Drew Headlee is another wrestler who could make an impact here. He was fifth in the 2010 U.S. Open.

Past Iowa State All-American Nick Fanthorpe also has wrestled well this season.

Past NCAA champion Matt McDonough of Iowa made the U.S. Junior World Team in this class last year.

66 KG/145.5 LBS

Two-time NCAA champion Brent Metcalf made his first World Team in 2010 and has built on that performance with a strong season.

Metcalf has placed in the top five in four international tournaments this season. Metcalf recently earned a dominating dual-meet win over South Africa’s Heinrich Barnes, who placed seventh in the 2010 Worlds. Metcalf looks poised to win a World medal this year.

Josh Churella had a strong season last year. He placed second in the U.S. Open and third in the World Team Trials.

Jared Frayer, second in the World Team Trials last year, is not expected to compete this season.

Joe Johnston, Phillip Simpson and Chase Pami also should make an impact here.

Johnston placed third in the Dave Schultz Memorial. He beat Pami in the third-place match. Johnston was fourth in the 2010 U.S. Open. Simpson was third in the Sunkist Kids International this season.

Past Wisconsin All-American Kyle Ruschell has made a smooth transition to freestyle and could be a factor in this weight class.

Justin Pearch is another wrestler to keep an eye on in this class.

Veterans Teyon Ware and Angel Cejudo are two other wrestlers to watch in this weight class. Ware was fifth and Cejudo seventh in this tournament last year.

Todd Meneely, sixth in this event last year, also could make an impact. He won three NCAA Division II titles for Nebraska-Omaha.

74 KG/163 LBS.

Travis Paulson made the World Team last year, but he likely will not compete at the U.S. Open after having knee surgery.

Paulson’s twin brother, Trent, made the U.S. World Team in 2009 at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and is a top contender this season at 74 kilos. He won the New York AC event and placed fifth in the Takhti Cup in Iran this season. Trent Paulson was second at the 2010 U.S. Open.

2009 World Team member Dustin Schlatter, sidelined last year with a knee injury, has returned to the mat. He placed third at the Medved event.

Jordan Burroughs, who just won his second NCAA title for Nebraska, is expected to be in the mix in this division. Burroughs is a past Junior World Team member who is lethal on his feet with an array of double-leg attacks.

2010 NCAA champion Andrew Howe, who won the U.S. Open event last year, is not expected to compete. Howe injured his hamstring during the college season before coming back to placed third at the NCAA tournament despite not being 100 percent physically. He placed second at the 2010 World Team Trials.

Past NCAA All-American Moza Fay placed fourth in this event last year. Fay placed third in the Sunkist Kids event and fourth in the New York AC tournament this season.

Past Iowa All-American Ryan Morningstar also has wrestled well. He placed second at the Dave Schultz Memorial and second in the New York AC International.

Past Illinois All-American Mike Poeta is another wrestler capable of making a splash in this weight class. Poeta was sixth in this event last year.

Terry Madden took fifth in the 2010 U.S. Open and Lloyd Rogers was seventh. Madden is expected to move up to 84 kg/185 lbs.

Nick Marable also could be in the mix. He placed third in the Hargobind. Past NCAA champion Kirk White is another top wrestler in this class.

84 KG/185 LBS.

Jake Herbert made a huge splash in 2009, advancing to the finals of the World Championships before finishing second. He lost in the first round of the 2010 Worlds in Russia. Herbert won the New York AC tournament this season and placed fifth in the Ivan Yarygin event in Russia.

Herbert, a two-time NCAA champion, has won this event the past two years.

Past NCAA champion Keith Gavin was second to Herbert in the 2010 World Team Trials. Gavin placed second at the Dave Schultz Memorial and third in the Cerro Pelado in Cuba this season.

Past Missouri All-American Raymond Jordan has continued to improve and will be a factor in this weight class. Jordan was third in the World Team Trials last year. He won the Hargobind this season and was fourth in the New York AC tournament.

Past Olympian and World Team member Andy Hrovat returns to compete in his hometown at the U.S. Open. Hrovat has been training in Russia. He is dropping back down to 84 kilos after competing at 96 the past two seasons. 

Past National Team member Bryce Hasseman is another very strong wrestler who could be in contention in Cleveland. Hasseman was second in the 2010 U.S. Open and recently placed fifth in the Cerro Pelado in Cuba.

2009 NCAA champion Max Askren plans to return to competition in the U.S. Open. He recently won a gold medal at the Northeast Senior Regionals.

Past NCAA Division II champion Marty Usman could also make an impact along with past Michigan All-American Tyrel Todd and past Central Michigan All-American Brandon Sinnott. 

96 KG/211.5 LBS.

J.D. Bergman made his first World Team last year and has continued to wrestle well this season. Bergman won the New York AC title in November, but he is not expected to compete in the U.S. Open after being sidelined with an injury.

2009 World Team member Jake Varner has continued to progress. Varner, a two-time NCAA champion, was second in the New York AC event and fifth in the Ivan Yarygin in Russia. Varner won this event in 2009.

Wynn Michalak also is wrestling well. He won the Hargobind event and was fourth in the New York AC tournament.

NCAA All-American Sonny Yohn placed fifth in this event last year. Brent Jones placed sixth in the 2010 U.S. Open.

NCAA champion David Zabriskie has made significant gains since concentrating on freestyle full-time and moving down from the heavyweight class.

Past Oklahoma State wrestler Jack Jensen also could be a factor in this division.

120 KG/264.5 LBS.

Les Sigman broke through to make his first World Team in 2010, going 1-1 at the World Championships. He defeated past college rival Tervel Dlagnev to make the U.S. team. Sigman won the U.S. Open last year as well.

Sigman, a four-time NCAA Division II champion for Nebraska-Omaha, placed fifth at the Ivan Yarygin in Russia this season.

Dlagnev, a two-time NCAA Division II champion for Nebraska-Kearney, has won two international tournaments this season and looks like the favorite in Cleveland. He has been second in this event the past two years.

2008 Olympian Steve Mocco has returned after missing most of last season. Mocco looked impressive in winning the Dave Schultz Memorial in February. Mocco won the 2009 U.S. Open title.

2007 World Team member Tommy Rowlands also will be in contention here. Rowlands has won titles at the Sunkist, Hargobind and Cerro Pelado events this season. Rowlands won this event in 2007 and 2008, and was third last year.

Junior World champion Dom Bradley also can’t be overlooked. Bradley beat Rowlands en route to a third-place finish at the 2010 World Team Trials. He was fourth in the 2009 U.S. Open.

Aaron Anspach also has wrestled well. He placed second at the Dave Schultz Memorial. He was third in the Sunkist Kids and New York AC events. Anspach placed fifth in this event last year.

NCAA champion Zach Rey is another wrestler to keep an eye on. He made the U.S. University World Team last year. He placed seventh in this event in 2010.

NCAA All-American Jarod Trice won University Nationals last year in freestyle.

2010 U.S. OPEN WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Men’s freestyle results

55 kg/121 lbs.
1st - Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) dec. Angel Escobedo, Griffith, Ind. (New York AC), 1-0, 4-0
3rd - Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va.(Sunkist Kids) dec. Dan Mitcheff, Kent, Ohio (Golden Pride WC), 1-0, 6-0
5th - Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (New York AC), 3-3, 4-0
7th - Brandon Precin, Evanston, Ill. (Wildcat WC) dec. Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids), 0-2, 3-1, 5-4

60 kg/132 lbs.
1st - Shawn Bunch, Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC) dec. Mike Zadick, Solon, Iowa (Gator Wrestling Club), 3-0, 2-1
3rd - Coleman Scott, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC) inj. dft. Reece Humphrey, Indianapolis, Ind. (New York AC)
5th - Drew Headlee, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Matt Valenti, Philadelphia, Pa., PA (Lehigh Valley AC), 2-0, 5-4
7th - Tyler Graff, Loveland, Colo. (New York AC) dec. Roger Peterkin, Philadelphia, Pa. (unattached), 5-0, 5-1

66 kg/145.5 lbs.
1st - Jared Frayer, Madison, Wis. (Gator WC) dec. Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), 0-1, 5-1, 3-2
3rd -  Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC) dec. Joe Johnston, Columbia, Mo. (MWF), 1-0,1-0
5th - Teyon Ware, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Todd Meneely, Omaha, Neb. (Maverick WC), 1-0, 1-1
7th - Angel Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Will Rowe, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Oklahoma), 2-0, 4-0

74 kg/163 lbs.
1st - Andrew Howe, Cedar Lake, Ind. (New York AC) dec. Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids), 0-7, 1-0, 6-2
3rd - Travis Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) dec. Moza Fay, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 4-1, 1-0
5th - Terry Madden, New York, N.Y. (New York AC) inj. dft. Mike Poeta, Naperville, Ill, (Lehigh Valley AC), 
7th - Lloyd Rogers, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC) dec. Ethan Headlee, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Pittsburgh WC), 0-1, 7-0, 2-1

84 kg/185 lbs.
1st - Jake Herbert, Hamlin, Ill. (New York AC) dec. Bryce Hasseman, Colorado Springs, Colo (New York), 1-0, 1-1
3rd - David Bertolino, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Chris Perry, Stillwater, Okla, (Gator WC), 1-2,1-0,4-1
5th - Keith Gavin, Pittsburgh, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) pin Quentin Wright, Wingate, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC), 2-3, 0:57
7th Brandon Sinnott, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Gator WC) won by inj. dft over Chris Pendleton, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)

96 kg/211.5 lbs.
1st - J. D. Bergman, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC) dec. Jake Varner, Bakersfield, Calif. (Nittany Lion WC), 0-1, 2-0, 5-0
3rd - Pat Cummins, Reinholds, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC) dec. Brandon Halsey, Bakersfield, Calif. (Sunkist Kids), 3-1, 1-0
5th - Sonny Yohn, Alamosa, Colo. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Brent Jones, Burke, Va. (Cavalier WC), 2-0, 4-1
7th - Chris Skretkowicz, Lexington, Va. (Club Keydet) dec. Jacob Glore, Imperial, Mo. (MWF), 5-0, 0-1, 1-0

120 kg/264.5 lbs.
1st - Les Sigman, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Tervel Dlagnev, Columbus, Ohio (Sunkist Kids), 3-4, 2-1, 2-0
3rd - Tommy Rowlands, Hilliard, Ohio (Sunkist Kids) dec. Blake Gillis, Iowa City, Iowa (Lehigh Valley AC), 3-0, 6-0
5th - Aaron Anspach, St. College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) inj. dft. Cameron Wade, Twinsburg, Ohio (Nittany Lion WC), 
7th - Zach Rey, Hopatcong, N.J. (Lehigh Valley AC) dec. David Zabriskie, Branchville, N.J. (Sunkist Kids), 3-0,2-0

Outstanding Wrestler – Andrew Howe (New York AC), 74 kg/163 lbs.

Div. I teams – 1. New York AC, 59 pts.; 2. Sunkist Kids, 53 pts.

Div. II teams – 1. Gator WC, 45 pts.; 2. Lehigh Valley AC, 21 pts.