Capturing the U.S. Open and advancing to the World Team Trials finals series was 2008 Olympian Ali Bernard, who was fifth at the Beijing Olympics. Bernard was also a member of the 2009 U.S. World Team. She boasts two Junior World titles and has been very successful in other major international events. Bernard is a pinner who can get many points in a hurry and is motivated about winning her first World medal on the Senior level.

Bernard defeated 2005 World champion Iris Smith in the finals of the U.S. Open. Smith has a long list of national and international achievements, and is among the most experienced stars within women’s wrestling. She has wrestled for the U.S. Army for many years, and won a gold at the CISM World Military Championships the first time they had a women’s division.

A third top challenger is 2010 U.S. World Team member Stephany Lee, who did not enter the U.S. Open this year. Lee also wrestled in the 2008 World Championships, and is a past University World champion. Lee has had success against the other U.S. athletes in this division, and has displayed tremendous talent, winning numerous international medals in recent seasons

Athletes who might move up from 67 kg that could make an impact are U.S. Open finalists Adeline Gray and Erin Clodgo. Gray has not competed at 72 kg in past years, but Clodgo had some success competing at this division earlier in her career. Two others who competed at 67 kg this year, Britteny Roberts and Christen Paysse, could also make the move up in weight.

A number of college athletes have shown promise at this weight class. Kendra Lewis was third at the U.S. Open and Melissa Simmons placed fourth. Rounding out the top seven at the U.S. Open were Emma Randall in fifth, Brittany Jones in sixth and Laura Conway in seventh. Brittany Delgado, who was fifth at the 2010 Junior World Championships, is also a threat to place high at this division. A pair of WCWA college national champions, Mei Ling Keiki and Leya-Justina Luafalemana, would add depth to the field if they enter.

The U.S. has been very successful in this weight class in the past, and there are three competitors who are serious threats for World medals if they win the Trials – Ali Bernard, Stephany Lee and Iris Smith. The rest of the field is working hard to catch up with these three talents. It will be interesting if somebody else is able to crack into the upper echelon and earn a spot in the World Team Trials finals, but 

2011 U.S. Open results at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
1st - Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator Wrestling Club) pin Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army), 2-1, 1:12
3rd - Kendra Lewis, Houston, Texas (Lindenwood) dec. Melissa Simmons, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club), 2-1, 5-1
5th - Emma Randall, Jamestown, Ohio (Lock Haven) pin Brittany Jones, Marshall, Mo. (Missouri Valley), 1-0, 1:51

2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 72 kg/158.5 pounds in women’s freestyle wrestling
U.S. Open, Champion – Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator WC)
U.S. Open, second place – Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Open, third place – Kendra Lewis, Houston, Texas (Lindenwood)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Melissa Simmons, Ridgefield, Wash. (Gator WC/OCU)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Emma Randall, Jamestown, Ohio (Lady Eagle WC)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Brittany Jones, Coppell, Texas (Missouri Valley)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Laura Conway, Traverse City, Mich. (USOEC)
Past U.S. World Team member – Stephany Lee, Colo. Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
New York AC International Champion – Brittany Delgado, Fountain Inn, S.C. (Oklahoma City Univ.)
WCWA Nationals champion – Mei Ling Keiki, Waianae, Hawaii (Missouri Baptist)
WCWA Nationals champion at 80 kg – Leya-Justina Luafalemana, Kaunakakai, Hawaii (Jamestown College)
University Nationals Runner-up 77 kg– Amber Floyd, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (King College)

Possible participants moving up from 67 kg

2011 U.S. Open results at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. in women’s freestyle wrestling
1st - Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York Athletic Club) dec. Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 3-0, 2-0
3rd - Britteny Roberts, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club) dec. Christen Paysse, Williamsburg, KY (Univ. of the Cumberlands), 0-1, 1-0, 2-0
5th - Jennifer Page, Orangevale, CA pin Tanya Kusse, Webster, N.Y. (Lindenwood), 1-1, 0:50
7th - Monique Dilliner, Kailua, Hawaii (USOEC) dec. Tessa Plana, Oklahoma City, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club) 2-0, 1-2, 3-1

2011 World Team Trials qualifiers at 67 kg/147.5 pounds in women’s freestyle wrestling
U.S. Open Champion – Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
U.S. Open, second place – Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Open, third place – Britteny Roberts, Santa Fe, Texas (Gator WC/OCU)
U.S. Open, fourth place – Christen Paysse, Fullerton, Calif. (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
U.S. Open, fifth place – Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (Bella Vista)
U.S. Open, sixth place – Tanya Kusse, Webster, N.Y. (Lindenwood)
U.S. Open, seventh place – Monique Dilliner, Kailua, Hawaii (USOEC)