The U.S. hasn’t won a World or Olympic medal in this weight class in seven years, but a number of top Americans are looking to change that this year.

Kellen Russell may be the leading candidate after he earned a surprise title in men’s freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. at April’s U.S. Open in Las Vegas.

The unseeded Russell downed Jordan Oliver in a battle of two-time NCAA champions in the Open finals.

Russell, Oliver and 2010 World Team member Brent Metcalf, who was third in Vegas, will be among the top contenders at the U.S. World Team Trials on June 21-22 in Stillwater, Okla.

Russell clinched a spot in the best-of-3 finals at the Trials by virtue of his win at the Open. He will face the Challenge Tournament winner in the final-round series.

Oliver defeated Metcalf at the Open before falling to Russell in the finals. Oliver looked impressive in winning matches over top wrestlers from Russia and Canada during the United 4 Wrestling event in Los Angeles.

The U.S. is looking for its first World medal in this class since Bill Zadick earned a gold medal in 2006.

Metcalf is expected to benefit from the new FILA rules, which were implemented after the U.S. Open and will be in place at the World Team Trials. There are now two three-minute periods with cumulative scoring. Takedowns are now worth two points instead of one.

Metcalf is known for wrestling an attacking style and being in superb condition, and the longer matches could certainly work in his favor.

Metcalf beat past NCAA All-American Adam Hall, who has had a strong season, in the third-place match at the Open.

Veteran Chase Pami was fifth and Phillip Simpson sixth in Vegas. Kyle Borshoff finished seventh.

University Nationals champion James Green also could be a factor in this division. The two-time All-American for Nebraska is a dangerous wrestler who has a lethal double-leg attack.

2013 U.S. OPEN RESULTS AT 66 KG/145.5 LBS.
1st – Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC) dec. Jordan Oliver, Easton, Pa. (Titan Mercury WC), 0-1, 2-2, 1-0
3rd – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC) dec. Adam Hall, New York, N.Y. (New York AC), 2-0, 6-0
5th – Chase Pami, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids) inj. dft over Phillip Simpson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
7th – Kyle Borshoff, Washington, D.C. (DCAC) dec. Brett Robbins, Cedar Falls, Iowa (Panther WC of NE Iowa), 6-0, 2-0

U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS AT 66 KG/145.5 LBS.
’12 Olympic Team Trials Champion – Jared Frayer, Norman, Okla. (Gator Wrestling Club)
’12 Olympic Team Trials second place – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
’12 Olympic Team Trials, true third place – Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
’13 MFS U.S. Open Champion – Kellen Russell, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
’13 MFS U.S. Open second place – Jordan Oliver, Easton, Pa. (Titan Mercury WC)
’13 MFS U.S. Open third place – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
’13 MFS U.S. Open fourth place – Adam Hall, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
’13 MFS U.S. Open fifth place – Chase Pami, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
’13 MFS U.S. Open sixth place – Phillip Simpson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
’13 MFS U.S. Open seventh place – Kyle Borshoff, Washington, D.C. (DCAC)
’13 MFS University National Champion – James Green, Willingboro, N.J. (NWTC)
’13 MFS University National second place – Jason Chamberlain, Boise, Idaho (Titan Mercury WC)
’13 MFS University National Champion at 70 kg – Justin Deangelis, Tulsa, Okla. (Oklahoma)
’13 MFS University National second place at 70 kg – Brandon Kingsley, Apple Valley, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
’13 Northeast Regional Champion – Rollie Peterkin, New York, N.Y. (New York AC)
’13 Northeast Regional Champion at 70 kg – Kevin Hartnett, Staten Island, N.Y. (Husky WC)
’13 Northern Plains Regional Champion – Kyle Ruschell, Madison, Wis. (Badger)
’13 Ivan Yarygin Grand Prix second place – Brent Metcalf, Iowa City, Iowa (New York AC)
’13 Cerro Pelado International Champion – Kevin LeValley, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
’13 Pan American Championships second place – Drew Headlee, Bethlehem, Pa. (Lehigh Valley AC)