Seven wrestlers were seeded ahead of Teyon Ware at the U.S. Open.

But that didn’t stop Ware from turning in one of the best performances of his career when he won April’s U.S. Open freestyle title at 66 kg/145 lbs.

Now Ware has the inside track on winning the U.S. World Team Trials, set for June 10-11 in Oklahoma City.

Ware’s win at the U.S. Open clinches him a spot in the best-of-3 finals series at the World Team Trials. Ware was a two-time NCAA champion for Oklahoma.

The Trials will be a homecoming of sorts for Ware, who grew up just outside Oklahoma City in Edmond.

Two wrestlers Ware beat en route to the U.S. Open title – Brent Metcalf and Cary Kolat – appear to be his top challengers at the Trials.

Metcalf was the No. 1 seed in the U.S. Open before falling to Ware in the quarterfinals. Metcalf, a 2010 World Team member and two-time NCAA champion, came back to place third in the Open.

Kolat, who just turned 38, wrestled well in the U.S. Open. Competing for the first time in three years, Kolat reached the finals before losing to Ware. Kolat is a past World silver and bronze medalist.

Past NCAA runner-up Chase Pami has made a smooth transition to freestyle. He placed fourth at the Dave Schultz Memorial before taking fourth at the U.S. Open.

Past NCAA All-American Kyle Ruschell won by injury default over Josh Churella in the fifth-place match at the Open. Churella placed third in the 2010 World Team Trials.

Veteran Phillip Simpson placed seventh in the U.S. Open, downing U.S. Army teammate Justin Pearch.

Penn State’s Andrew Alton and Minnesota’s Dylan Ness are among the top young wrestlers who have qualified for the Trials in this division.

2011 U.S. Open results at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in freestyle
1st – Teyon Ware, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC) dec. Cary Kolat, Chapel Hill, NC (North Carolina RTC), 0-1, 5-0, 1-1
3rd – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC) dec. Chase Pami, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 3-0
5th – Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (New York AC) injury default over Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
7th – Phillip Simpson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army) dec. Justin Pearch, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army), 0-1, 1-0, 4-3

World Team qualifiers at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in freestyle
U.S. Open Champion – Teyon Ware, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
U.S. Open, second place – Cary Kolat, Chapel Hill, N.C. (North Carolina RTC)
U.S. Open, third place – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Chase Pami, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Phillip Simpson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion – Todd Meneely, Omaha, Neb. (Maverick WC)
Northern Plains Trials Champion – Dylan Ness, Bloomington, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
University Nationals Champion 66 kg – Andrew Alton, Mill Hall, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
University Nationals Runner-up 66 kg – Kevin LeValley, Hugo, Colo. (Bison WC)
University Nationals Champion 63 kg – Andrew Long, Creston, Iowa (Nittany Lion WC)
University Nationals True Second 63 kg – Nick Dardanes, Oak Park, Ill. (Minnesota Storm)
University Nationals True Second 70 kg – Eric Terrazas, Wheaton, Ill. (Illini WC)
National Coach wild card – Joe Johnston, Columbia, Mo. (Gator WC)
National Coach wild card – Justin Pearch, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)