Competing on the last three U.S. World Teams at 55 kg/121 lbs. has been talented Tatiana Padilla, who made an impact on the international scene while still a teenager. Padilla has won two World bronze medals (2008, 2010) and placed fifth in the World in 2009. She did not compete at the 2011 U.S. Open, which means she will have to come through the Challenge Tournament in order to make a fourth straight U.S. World Team. Padilla won a gold at the competitive Grand Prix of Tourcoing in France during the winter tour season. Padilla has been injured and it is possible she won't be ready to compete again this season.

Capturing the 2011 U.S. Open and earning a spot in the best-of-three finals series was Helen Maroulis, who is having her best season on the Senior level. Maroulis made a World Team at 51 kg in 2008 while still in high school. A two-time Junior World medalist, Maroulis qualified to compete on her third Junior World Team this year as well. She has won the WCWA Women’s College Nationals the last two years, first for Missouri Baptist and then for Simon Fraser this year. Maroulis also won a number of international medals in the last year, including golds at the Canada Cup, the Hargobind International and the 

Making a move down from 59 kg this year was Kelsey Campbell, who placed fifth in the World Championships last year at that weight class. Campbell placed second behind Maroulis in the U.S. Open at 55 kg. Campbell won the Sunkist Kids International at 59 kg in the fall before making the drop to 55 kg later in the winter. 

Taking third at the U.S. Open was Schuyler Brown, who made past Junior World Teams and has competed well after dropping to 55 kg. Former U.S. Open champion Sharon Jacobson finished fourth at the Open this year and had a solid season on the international circuit.

A pair of talented college wrestlers Shauna Isbell of Lindenwood and Michaela Hutchison of Oklahoma City were fifth and sixth at the U.S. Open. Hutchison also won the University Nationals and was second in the WCWA College Nationals this season. The final spot in the World Team Trials spot from the U.S. Open went to seventh-place finisher Sandy Do.

Two athletes who did not compete at the U.S. Open earned spots in the field with medal performances at international events, Trinity Plessinger and Katherine Fulp-Allen. Plessinger has been effective at 55 kg while also competing at times up at 59 kg. Fulp-Allen is in this weight class for the first time this year, after being nationally ranked for a number of seasons down at 51 kg. Ashley Hudson was a WCWA College Nationals champion up at 59 kg, but also won an international medal competing down at 55 kg.

The question mark in this division is how many athletes will move in from either 51 kg or 59 kg. Many of the 51 kg athletes have made a commitment to go down to 48 kg, but others could decide to wrestle up at 55 kg for the World Team Trials in Oklahoma City. Some of those at 59 kg may also make the drop to this Olympic weight division. If a number of the athletes make the change to 55 kg, this will be a very large and competitive division in Oklahoma City.

Deanna Rix, who was the U.S. Open champion at 59 kg, has placed fifth in the World Championships twice (2008, 2009). She has not been at 55 kg in recent seasons, but would be an immediate title contender if she did drop down. 2007 U.S. World Team member Leigh Jaynes was injured much of this season and has been competing in both 55 kg and 59 kg in recent seasons. High school sensation Amanda Hendey was second behind Rix at 59 kg at the U.S. Open.

Going in, Helen Maroulis is wrestling with confidence and success, especially after her U.S. Open win. Two-time World medalist If she can return from injury, Tatiana Padilla will have the battle in the Challenge Tournament to earn a rematch with Maroulis, who she beat last year for the World Team spot. With past 59 kg stars like Kelsey Campbell and possibly Deanna Rix in the mix, this weight class could be loaded with talent and very competitive.

2011 U.S. Open results at 55 kg/121 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
1st - Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York Athletic Club) dec. Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), Dec 1-1,2-0
3rd - Schuyler Brown, Marquette, Mich. (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army), 9-3, 3-6, 5-2
5th - Shauna Isbell, Flagstaff, Ariz. (Lindenwood) dec. Michaela Hutchison, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club), 1-1, 1-1, 1-1
7th - Sandy Do, San Diego, Calif. dec. Monica Hovermale, Smithsburg, Md., 1-0,3-0

2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 55 kg/121 pounds in women’s freestyle wrestling
U.S. Open Champion – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, second place – Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, third place – Schuyler Brown, Montpelier, Va. (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Shauna Isbell, Flagstaff, Ariz. (Lindenwood)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Michaela Hutchison, Soldotna, Alaska (Gator WC/OCU)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Sandy Do, San Diego, Calif. (unattached)
Past U.S. World Team member – Tatiana Padilla, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
University Nationals Champion – Michaela Hutchison, Soldotna, Alaska (Gator WC/OCU)
University Nationals True Second – Katherine Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
Singh International bronze - Ashley Hudson, Wildwood, Mo. (Gator WC/OCU)
Medved International silver - Trinity Plessinger, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

Possible participants moving up 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)

Possible participants moving down from 59 kg

2011 U.S. Open results at 59 kg/130 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
1st - Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif., 1-0, 3-0
3rd - Randi Beltz, St. Charles, Mo. (Missouri Valley College) pin Jenna Burkert, Middle Island, N.Y. (New York Athletic Club), 0:57
5th - Ashley Hudson, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Cianah Hee, Williamsburg, Ky. (Univ. of the Cumberlands), 3-2, 2-7, 3-2
7th - Kayla Brendlinger, Slippery Rock, Pa. pin Summer Sistad, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley College), 1:41

2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 59 kg/130 lbs. pounds in women’s freestyle wrestling
U.S. Open Champion – Deanna Rix, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, second place – Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif. (San Diego Hot Beaches)
U.S. Open, third place – Randi Beltz, St. Charles, Mo. (Team St. Louis)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Jenna Burkert, Middle Island, N.Y. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Ashley Hudson, Wildwood, Mo. (Gator WC/OCU)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Cianah Hee, Honolulu, Hawaii (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Kayla Brendlinger, Slippery Rock, Pa. (unattached)
Northern Plains Trials Champion – Alicia Hubbard, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
Past U.S. World Team member – Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
WCWA Nationals runner-up – Cianah Hee, Honolulu, Hawaii (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
University Nationals Champion – Trinity Plessinger, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
University Nationals True Second – Schuyler Brown, Montpelier, Va. (USOEC)