Photo of Clarissa Chun winning a bout at the 2011 World Championships by Larry Slater

48 kg/105.5 lbs.

This weight class is loaded with past World Team members and U.S. Open champions, all seeking to claim the top seed at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials by winning the title in Arlington. At closing of on-line registration, there were 26 entries, a large weight class with a strong mix of experience and talented youth.

Holding the top spot should be 2008 World champion Clarissa Chun, who was also fifth at the 2008 Olympics. Chun placed seventh at the 2011 World Championships, and also competed on the 2009 World Team. She has been successful against the U.S. competition in recent years, with an impressive combination of skill and experience.

Knocking Chun off the 2010 World Team was Alyssa Lampe, who was second at the U.S. World Team Trials behind Chun the other three years (2008, 2009, 2011). Lampe has struggled a bit this fall, with losses to lower ranked Americans at the Hargobind International and the NYAC International, which could drop her in the seeding.

Jessica Medina, a member of the 2009 and 2010 World Teams at 51 kg, was third at the 2011 World Team Trials at 48 kg. She had a win over Lampe at the Sunkist Kids International, and was fourth at the NYAC International with losses to Canadians.

Whitney Conder, a 2011 World Team member at 51 kg, is also a big threat down at this weight. Conder was a 2007 Junior World Champion. She finished fourth at the 2011 World Team Trials at 48 kg, and is capable of moving higher with a good effort in Arlington.

Two-time Junior World champion Victoria Anthony has been wrestling well this fall. She is taking a year off from college at Simon Fraser to pursue the Olympic berth. Anthony has a win over Lampe this year at Hargobind and gave Chun a close battle before losing in three periods in the semifinals at the NYAC International.

Sara Fulp-Allen, a past U.S. Open champion, is a dangerous entry here. Fulp-Allen placed second at 51 kg in the Non-Olympic Weight Trials last year, beating Lampe in the semifinals and losing to Conder in the finals. 

Nicole Woody, a past Junior World champion, placed a strong second at the 2011 U.S. Open in Cleveland, but lost to Anthony and Fulp-Allen at the World Team Trials. Her big win at the 2011 Open was over Anthony in the semifinals. 

Gabrielle Henry of the University of the Cumberlands is among the top college stars in the field. There are three tough competitiors from Oklahoma City University in the top 15 of the most recent USA Wrestling rankings, Joey Miller, Kristie Garr and Emily Webster. Miller has shown success at both 51 kg and 48 kg, and is talented in freestyle.

2011 Junior World bronze medalist Erin Golston was fourth at the 2011 U.S. Open, and although still a bit undersized at this weight, she has beaten a number of top Senior level athletes. Young Candace Workman, who trains at the USOTC, has made rapid progress

2011 Cadet World champion Haley Augello, who has also won two Junior National titles, became eligible to compete at the Senior level this year. Competing at 51 kg at the NYAC International, she lost to Conder but had a win over Miller. 

Another veteran competitor capable of success here is Rachel Bernardes. The weight class is also stocked with a number of college students, many seeking to make a name for themselves at the U.S. Open this year. There should be many interesting and competitive bouts early here, with the intensity going up each round.

Current Ranked athletes in preliminary entries at 48 kg
1. Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) NT #1
2. Jessica Medina, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) NT #3
3. Victoria Anthony, Huntington Beach, Calf (New York AC)
4. Whitney Conder, Colorado Springs, Co (Gator WC)
5. Alyssa Lampe, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) NT #2
6. Sara Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo (New York AC)
7. Nicole Woody, Odenton, Md. (Gator WC/OCU)
8. Gabrielle Henry, Columbus, Ohio (Univ. of the Cumberlands)
10. Joey Miller, Woodward, Okla. (Gator WC/OCU)
12. Kristie Garr, Goodrich, Mich. (Gator WC/OCU)
13. Erin Golston, Lake of the Hills, Ill., (New York AC)
14. Candace Workman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (unattached)
15. Emily Webster, Sedalia, Mo. (Gator WC/OCU)

55 kg/121 lbs.

Helen Maroulis, who was fifth at the 2011 World Championships and won the gold medal at the 2011 Pan American Games, enters the U.S. Open with momentum and confidence. A three-time Junior World medalist, Maroulis is taking a year off from college at Simon Fraser to pursue her spot on the Olympic team. She made her first U.S. World Team in 2008 as a teenager, and has continued to improve dramatically.

Back on the mats in training has been two-time World bronze medalist Tatiana Padilla, who missed the key parts of the 2011 season with injury. Padilla was hoping to be healthy enough to wrestle at the Open. She is truly a gamer, having some of her strongest performances in the most important events.

Kelsey Campbell, who was fifth in the World Championships at 59 kg in 2010 and made the 2011 World Team at 59 kg, has also competed well when down at 55 kg. Campbell was third at the 2011 World Team Trials at 55 kg and was the champion at this weight class at the 2011 Sunkist Kids International.

Placing second at the 2011 World Team Trials with her best-ever performance was Ashley Hudson, a WCWA college national champion for OCU. Hudson had big wins over Campbell and Leigh Jaynes at that event. Now graduated from college, Hudson is seeking to match that effort by making a run for the finals in Arlington.

Leigh Jaynes, a 2007 World Team member at 59 kg, is talented and dangerous. She was second to Campbell at 59 kg at the 2011 Non-Olympic Weight Trials. Down at 55 kg, Jaynes has some big wins already this fall. She lost to Campbell in the semifinals at the Sunkist Kids International, then beat Campbell the next week in the bronze match at the Hargobind International. At the NYAC International, she lost to Maroulis, but beat Hudson in the wrestle-backs on the way to the bronze medal.

Sharon Jacobson, a past U.S. Open champion, is capable of making a strong run at this division. Jacobson was fourth at the 2011 World Team Trials, losing to Campbell in a true third-place match for the National Team spot.

Seeking to move up in the standings is past University World Champion Katherine Fulp-Allen, who made the move up from 51 kg a season ago and has some solid wins at her new weight class. 

Also moving up to 55 kg was 2010 Junior World bronze medalist Amy Whitbeck, who lost to Fulp-Allen at the NYAC International, but had a nice win over Michaela Hutchison in the wrestlebacks there.

Michaela Hutchison won two WCWA National titles for Oklahoma City and placed second behind Maroulis in 2011. She was third at 59 kg at the Non-Olympic Weight Trials last summer, with a win over Jacobson there. She placed second behind Campbell at the Sunkist Kids International, with a sin over Fulp-Allen there.

Schuyler Brown was third at the 2011 U.S. Open, but lost to Jacobson and Jaynes at the World Team Trials. A Junior World Team member, Brown is experienced and capable of doing well here.

The college ranks will provide some tough athletes here, with Brieana Delgado of OCU, Shauna Isbel of Lindenwood and Kayla Brendlinger of King in the top 15 of the most recent USA Wrestling rankings. Brendlinger has been as high as No. 3 on the Senior level in the past. Another tough young collegian is freshman Sara Hildebrandt of King.

Alicia Hubbard, who trains at the USOTC and has been national ranked in the past, is capable of moving up in the standings at this weight. Another person to watch is 2010 Junior World Team member Carlene Sluberski, who is moving up from 51 kg in her first big test at this new weight class. With 31 athletes on the pre-entry list, this weight should have a number over very competitive bouts throughout the bracket.

Current Ranked athletes in preliminary entries at 55 kg
1. Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md (New York AC) NT #1
2. Tatiana Padilla, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
3. Kelsey Campbell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) NT #3
4. Leigh Jaynes, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
5. Ashley Hudson, Wildwood, Mo. (Gator WC/OCU) NT #2
6. Sharon Jacobson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
7. Katherine Fulp-Allen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
8. Amy Whitbeck, Duanesburg, N.Y. (New York AC)
9. Michaela Hutchison, Soldotna, Alaska (Gator WC/OCU)
12. Schuyler Brown, Montpelier, Va (Gator WC)
13. Brieana Delgado, Fountain Inn, S.C. (Gator WC/OCU)
14. Shauna Isbell, Flagstaff, Ariz. (Lindenwood Univ.)
15. Kayla Brendlinger, Slippery Rock, Pa (King College)
11. at 48 kg. Carlene Sluberski, Fredonia, N.Y. (New York AC)

63 kg/138.75 lbs.

Holding down this weight class has been 2010 World silver medalist Elena Pirozhkova, who has been on four straight U.S. World Teams. Pirozhkova was fifth in the World Championships this year, falling just short of another medal. She has won two University World titles and captured medals at many major international events, giving her both experience and confidence.

Placing second behind Pirozhkova at the World Team Trials was Adeline Gray, who dropped down from 67 kg where she was fifth in the 2009 World Championships. Gray won the Non-Olympic Weight Trials at 67 kg, then won a World bronze medal there in 2011 in Istanbul. She has been a bit banged up in training, and may not be ready for the U.S. Open, but should be expected to be in thick of things at the Olympic Trials.

Taking third on the U.S. National Team was Othella Feroleto, who made her name in wrestling as Othella Lucas. She successfully moved up from 59 kg a year ago, and continues to gain momentum at this weight. Feroleto placed a strong third at the New York AC International in November.

Showing rapid improvement is 2011 Junior World bronze medalist Alli Ragan, who is a star for King College. Ragan won a gold medal at the New York AC International, with a win over two-time World champion Kristie Davis in the semifinals and a victory over Trinity Plessinger in the finals. 

Davis is the most successful U.S. women’s athlete in history, with a record nine World medals on her resume. She was injured last year at the World Team Trials, losing to Gray in the finals of the Challenge Tournament in an intriguing battle. Davis has fallen short in her quest for the Olympic Team in both 2004 and 2008, and is making a hard run to reach that goal in 2012. 

Plessinger has competed mostly at 59 kg and 55 kg in recent seasons, but is showing some success when she has moved up to 63 kg. Her second place at the NYAC International and third place at the Hargobind International in Canada shows that she can win big bouts at her new division.

Deanna Betterman, who made her name as Deanna Rix before marrying Greco-Roman star Joe Betterman, is making the move up to this division after much success at 59 kg. She was fifth in the 2009 and 2010 World Championships at 59 kg. Betterman lost to Davis and beat Feroleto at the Sunkist Kids International. 

2009 Junior World bronze medalist Veronica Carlson is healthy again, and seeking to move up in the rankings again here. She has been on the Women’s National Team in past seasons. She struggled a bit at the New York AC International, dropping bouts to Plessinger and Feroleto.

Having a great freshman year in college for Oklahoma City is Jennifer Page, who holds a No. 1 ranking in the WCWA. Page was a U.S. Open placewinner while still in high school in California. She beat Feroleto in the second round at the NYAC International, but lost to her later in the day in the bronze-medal bout. 

Erin Clodgo, who was a U.S. Open champion at 67 kg in the past, is looking to find similar success down at 63 kg. Clodgo made U.S. age group World Teams. She did not medal at either the Sunkist Kids International or the New York AC International.

Another past National Team member at this weight class is Vanessa Oswalt, who has been ranked as high as No. 2 at this weight class in the past. Oswalt missed some time with injury, but is getting back to top form. She lost to Page and Feroleto at Sunkist, and to Davis at the NYAC International.

Jenna Burkert, a 2011 Junior World medalist at 59 kg, is moving up to test herself at this higher weight class. Burkert has had some success on the Senior level in international competition, but is giving up some size at this weight. Her scrappy style should allow her to remain competitive here.

Also in the top 15 of the recent USA Wrestling rankings are Melissa Apodaca and Tessa Plana. This weight class has additional depth. Amanda Hendey, who was a U.S. Open runner-up as a California high school star last year, is making the move up to this division. Two other athletes who have been nationally ranked at 63 kg in recent seasons will also look to move up into the medal rounds, Randi Beltz and Lauren Louive.

An emerging star in the college ranks is Audrey Morehouse of Oklahoma City. Two athletes who were very successful in the age-group programs with national-level titles will also try to make the step up into the Senior ranks, Roni Goodale and Krista Revelle. With 36 entries on the preliminary list, this division should be very interesting right from the early rounds.

Current Ranked athletes in preliminary entries at 63 kg
1. Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) NT #1
2. Adeline Gray, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) NT #2
3. Othella Feroleto, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) NT #3
4. Alli Ragan, Carbondale, Ill. (New York AC/King College)
5. Kristie Davis, Mustang, Okla. (Gator WC/OCU)
6. Trinity Plessinger, Colorado Springs, Colo (Sunkist Kids)
7. Jennifer Page, Orangevale, Calif. (Gator WC/OCU)
8. Deanna Betterman, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
9. Veronica Carlson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
11. Erin Clodgo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
12. Jenna Burkert, Rocky Point, N.Y. (New York AC)
13. Vanessa Oswalt, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
14. Melissa Apodaca, Chugiak, Alaska (New York AC)
15. Tessa Plana, Irving, Texas (Gator WC/OCU)
11 at 55 kg. Amanda Hendey, Beaumont, Calif. (King College)

72 kg/158.5 lbs.

Coming off her best season on the senior level is 2011 World bronze medalist Ali Bernard, who was also fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games. Bernard also earned a spot on the 2009 U.S. World Team. A former two-time Junior World champion and a University World champion, Bernard has been successful at every level of the sport. Now considered a veteran, her World medal should give her additional confidence going into the Olympic year.

2005 World champion Iris Smith placed second behind Bernard at the 2011 World Team Trials, and remains a top challenger at this division. Smith won a gold medal at the New York AC International and a bronze at the Sunkist Kids International this fall. She has won a number of U.S. Open titles in her career.

Back in the mix is 2008 and 2010 World Team member Stephany Lee, who did not compete in last year’s World Team Trials. She got down to 67 kg for the first time for the 2011 Non-Olympic Weight Trials, and lost to Adeline Gray in the finals. In addition to having tremendous ability, Lee also has a pattern of past success against Bernard, something that makes her entry here even more interesting.

Coming off a solid 2011 season is Britteny Roberts of Oklahoma City, who was fourth in the World Team Trials. One of her OCU teammates, Melissa Simmons, beat her in the World Team Trials last year. Simmons was injured this fall competing in New York, and is not expected to be back for the U.S. Open.

Another top challenger from the college ranks is Kendra Lewis of Lindenwood, who has been competitive in this division the last few seasons. Also with considerable Senior-level experience is Emma Randall of Lock Haven.

One of the top newcomers here is college freshman Julia Salata of King College, who won three Junior National titles as a Michigan prep star. Salata may be a bit undersized at 72 kg, but has a wealth of talent. She was second at 67 kg at the NYAC International behind Adeline Gray.

Laura Conway holds a No. 10 national ranking going into this weekend. Among the others to watch in this division are Mary Westman and Lorrie Ramos, both who had solid success on the age-group levels. There will be a number of young college athletes in the division, all seeking to make a name for themselves. With 17 athletes on the preliminary entry list, it will only take a few wins for an athlete to make the top seven here and earn a spot in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.

Current Ranked athletes in preliminary entries at 72 kg
1. Ali Bernard, New Ulm, Minn. (Gator WC) NT #1
2. Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Co (U.S. Army) NT #2
3. Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Britteny Roberts, Sante Fe, Texas (Gator WC/OCU)
6. Kendra Lewis, Houston, Texas (Lindenwood Univ.)
8. Emma Randall, Greenview, Ohio (LHU Lady Eagles WC)
9. Julia Salata, Canton, Mich. (King College)
10. Laura Conway, Des Plaines, Ill. (USOEC)