Sam Hazewinkel is ready for a breakthrough.

Hazewinkel has won the U.S. Open three times, but he’s yet to make a World Team.

He hopes to change that as he prepares for the U.S. World Team Trials, set for June 10-11 in Oklahoma City.

Hazewinkel won April’s U.S. Open in freestyle at 55 kg/121 lbs. He clinched a spot in the best-of-3 finals series at the World Team Trials.

Hazewinkel has had a strong season. He placed second at the Pan American Championships and the Alexander Medved International. He was third at the Cerro Pelado International in Cuba.

The Trials will be a bit of a homecoming for Hazewinkel, who was a four-time All-American at nearby Oklahoma. Hazewinkel previously won the U.S. Open in Greco-Roman in 2005 and 2007, but fell short of making the World Team both years.

His father, David, and uncle, Jim, both competed in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games in Greco-Roman.

2008 Olympic gold medalist Henry Cejudo returned to the mat earlier this month, earning a win over Russia’s Rasul Mashezov in the Beat the Streets dual meet at New York City’s Times Square.

Cejudo, 24, has not wrestled in a tournament since Beijing, but obviously would be one of the favorites if he competes in Oklahoma City.

Past NCAA champion Troy Nickerson placed second behind Hazewinkel at the U.S. Open. Nickerson is back on the mat after being slowed by an injury during his senior season in college.

2010 World Team member Obe Blanc is another wrestler to keep an eye on. Blanc advanced to the quarterfinals of the World Championships last year. He placed fourth in the U.S. Open.

Past NCAA champion Angel Escobedo, second to Blanc in the 2010 World Team Trials, has returned to the mat after being sidelined with an injury. Escobedo is a talented young wrestler who is a past Junior World Team member in freestyle.

Past NCAA All-American Daniel Mitcheff was third at the U.S. Open.

NCAA qualifier Frank Perrelli looked good at the U.S. Open. He pinned past 2009 World Team Trials runner-up Nick Simmons in the fifth-place match at April’s U.S. Open.

Mark McKnight, seventh in the U.S. Open, is another wrestler to watch in this division.

NCAA All-Americans Brandon Precin, Daniel Dennis and Zach Sanders also have landed spots in the Trials. Precin won University Nationals and Dennis won the Northern Plains Regional.

2011 U.S. Open results at 55 kg/121 lbs. in freestyle
1st – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Troy Nickerson, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC), 6-0, 4-3

3rd – Daniel Mitcheff, Kent, Ohio (Gator WC) dec. Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC), 1-0, 0-1, 1-1

5th – Frank Perrelli, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC) pinned Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids), 3-3, 1:08

7th – Mark McKnight, University Park, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Michael Dunkum, Colorado Springs, Colo. (OTC), 7-0, 3-0

World Team qualifiers at 55 kg/121 lbs. in freestyle
U.S. Open Champion – Sam Hazewinkel, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, second place – Troy Nickerson, Ithaca, N.Y. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, third place – Daniel Mitcheff, Kent, Ohio (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Obe Blanc, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Frank Perrelli, Hackettstown, N.J. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Mark McKnight, University Park, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
Northern Plains Trials Champion – Daniel Dennis, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
Past Olympic Team member – Henry Cejudo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
Past U.S. World Team member – Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
University Nationals Champion – Brandon Precin, Orland Park, Ill. (Wildcat WC)
University Nationals True Second – Zach Sanders, Wabasha, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Ziolkowski International champion - Angel Escobedo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)