The 48 kg division should be one of the deepest and most interesting in women’s freestyle at the World Team Trials. With only the four Olympic women’s weights being contested in Oklahoma City, there will be all of the 48 kg contenders and most of the 51 kg athletes entering at this weight class.

Going in at No. 1 after winning the U.S. Open for the fourth time in her career is 2008 World champion Clarissa Chun, one of the most experienced and talented wrestlers on the international scene. Chun was fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games and competed in the 2009 World Championships, as well. She had a good international season, with golds at the New York AC International and the Open Cup of Russia. 

Beating Chun at the 2010 World Team Trials to make her first World Team was Alyssa Lampe, who had been second behind Chun in the previous two World Team Trials events. Lampe did not get down to 48 kg for the U.S. Open. She has won international medals at both 48 kg and 51 kg this season. Lampe is big and powerful at this weight class and has confidence in her abilities.

The top two placewinners at the U.S. Open at 51 kg are looking to drop down, champion Whitney Conder and runner-up Jessica Medina. Conder, a 2007 Junior World champion, has not been down to this weight class yet. Medina, who competed in the last two World Championships for the USA, has been to 44 kg, with a weight allowance, during the international season. It will take great discipline for both the get to the scratch weight, but they have been working towards this throughout the year.

2006 World Team member Mary Kelly is expected back on the mat for the World Team Trials. She was injured last year at this event and has not competed since, but has been in serious training. With all of her past international experience, a healthy Mary Kelly is capable of defeating anybody in the field.

Past U.S. Open champion Sara Fulp-Allen has been splitting her time between 48 kg and 51 kg this year at international events. Fulp-Allen won the Sunkist Kids International and the Hargobind International at 48 kg this fall, then won a pair of medals in Europe this winter up at 51 kg. She was not at 48 kg for the U.S. Open but is expected to be back down at 48 kg in Oklahoma City. Fulp-Allen has the experience and skill to challenge for top honors.

Nicole Woody had a breakthrough performance at 48 kg this year, placing second behind Chun at the U.S. Open. Woody is a past Junior World champion at 44 kg. In her final year on the college scene, won the WCWA Women’s College Nationals this year also at 44 kg. She won a medal in India this spring and also competed at the Pan American Championships.

C.C. Weber had her strongest finish at the U.S. Open this year with her bronze medal at 48 kg. She missed some time with injury, but has been strong since her return to the mat. Placing fourth at the U.S. Open with her career-best finish was high school star Erin Golston, who has now made her second straight Junior World Team at 44 kg.

Two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony was disappointed with her fifth place finish at the U.S. Open this year. She recently earned a spot on the 2011 Junior World Team, and will have a chance to go for a third title at that level. Anthony won the WCWA Women’s College Nationals for the second straight year competing for Simon Fraser in Canada.

Others qualifying for the World Team Trials from the U.S. Open at 48 kg were Candace Workman, who placed sixth, and Lisa Martinez, who was seventh. Others who qualified for the field at 48 kg were Northern Plains champion Rachel Bernardes and WCWA Nationals runner-up Emily Martin. 

Carlene Sluberski, who did very well at 48 kg last year but has competed at 51 kg this season, would be a strong challenger if she decided to drop down in weight. Sluberski won a spot on the 2011 Junior World Team up at 51 kg. There could be some others dropping down from 51 kg for the event, which would make the Challenge Tournament even more competitive.

With past World Team members Clarissa Chun, Alyssa Lampe, Mary Kelly and Jessica Medina in this division, this field is deep with past World-level experience. However, others who have not been on a Senior World Team, like Sara Fulp-Allen, Whitney Conder, Nicole Woody and others make the Challenge Tournament in Oklahoma City a truly intense event. Chun gets to sit out and watch the rest battle for the right to face her in a best-of-three series, perhaps a big advantage in such a competitive environment.

2011 U.S. Open results at 48 kg/105.5 lbs in women’s freestyle
1st - Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) tech. fall Nicole Woody, Odenton, Md. (Gator Wrestling Club), 6-0, 6-0
3rd - CC Weber, Colorado Springs, Colo. ( Sunkist Kids) dec. Erin Golston, Marquette, Mich. (New York Athletic Club), 5-0,1-0
5th - Victoria Anthony, Huntington, Calif. (New York Athletic Club) dec. Candace Workman, Vernal, Utah (OTC), 8-0, 5-0
7th - Lisa Martinez, Amarillo, Texas (Univ. of the Cumberlands) pin Rachel Bernardes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force), 0-1, 1:08

2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 48 kg/105.5 pounds in women’s freestyle wrestling
U.S. Open Champion – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, second place – Nicole Woody, Odenton, Md. (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, third place – CC Weber, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Erin Golston, Lake in the Hills, Ill. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Victoria Anthony, Huntington, Calif. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Candace Workman, Vernal, Utah (OTC)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Lisa Martinez, Amarillo, Texas (King College)
Northern Plains Trials Champion – Rachel Bernardes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
Past U.S. World Team member – Mary Kelly, Marquette, Mich. (New York AC)
Sunkist Kids International champion – Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
WCWA Nationals runner-up 48 kg – Emily Martin, Frisco, Texas (King College)
University Nationals Champion – Candace Workman, Vernal, Utah (OTC)

Possible participants moving down from 51 kg

2011 U.S. Open results at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
1st - Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), Dec 1-0,1-1
3rd - Emily Martin, Frisco, Texas TN (King College) dec. Ashley Shannon, (Lindenwood), 1-1, 1-1, 1-0
5th - Joey Miller, Woodward, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club) inj. dft. Gabrielle Henry, Columbus, Ohio (New York Athletic Club),
7th - Carlene Sluberski, Marquette, Mich.(USOEC) dec. Stacy Martin, Frisco, Texas (King College), 3-0, 4-0

2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 51 kg/112.25 pounds in women’s freestyle wrestling
U.S. Open Champion – Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, second place – Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, third place – Emily Martin, Frisco, Texas (King College)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Ashley Shannon, Odenton, Md. (Lindenwood)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Joey Miller, Woodward, Okla. (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Gabrielle Henry, Columbus, Ohio (New York AC)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (USOEC)