The first freestyle session of the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament was a three-ring circle of great action, as almost every match was very competitive and entertaining. The stakes could not be higher - win and you advance, lose and you will no longer be eligible to go to the World Championships in Madison Square Garden in New York City in September.    Two of the mats featured the best men's freestyle wrestlers, many who were former NCAA Champions or are emerging international stars. The women freestylers competed on the third mat, also with some well known stars and emerging talents.    The dream story of Miron Kharchilava ended abruptly in the opening round at 152 pounds. Kharchilava became a naturalized U.S. citizen just two days ago, after spending 10 years chasing a dream of becoming an American. He was defeated by Univ. of Pennsylvania star Yoshi Nakamura of the Dave Schultz WC, 9-4. Kharchilava made some tactical errors that the slick Nakamura pounced on, and it was Nakamura who added his name to the list of bright new stars on the American freestyle scene.    Another athlete with a strong international background, Jesus Wilson, also met defeat in his first match. Wilson, who was fifth in the 1993 World Championships for Cuba (and had a memorable semifinal slugfest with Terry Brands at the Worlds in Toronto that year), was also in his first World Team Trials as a U.S. citizen. Wilson dropped an entertaining 5-4 match to Cody Sanderson, the former Iowa State star who is emerging as a top young freestyle talent.    Alas, the two U.S. wrestlers who knocked off the new U.S. citizens were defeated in the semifinals by two of the top favorites in the tournament.    Sanderson lost a 3-0 match to 2000 U.S. Nationals champion Kerry Boumans, who was also second in the 2000 Olympic Trials. Boumans was sporting a seven-stitch cut caused by an accidental headbutt in the match against Sanderson. Boumans is in this Challenge Tournament after placing second at the 2001 U.S. Nationals.    "Losing in the Nationals didn't affect me," said Boumans. "It was a learning point for me. The minute I lost at the U.S. Nationals, I was looking to the World Team Trials and this Challenge Tournament."    Nakamura was stopped by Chris Bono, who like Boumans was beaten in the U.S. Nationals finals in April. Bono scored a solid 4-1 victory, and was looking forward to moving on in this tournament. Unlike Boumans, his loss at the U.S. Nationals did affect him greatly.    "That't the best I've felt in 10 years," said Bono. "My loss at Nationals is really inspiring me. I've put in a little extra effort. I hope it's my time now. It's the best I have wrestled during my career."    The women's division went mostly according to expectations, with one notable exception. Lauren Wolfe, who won five U.S. Nationals titles and placed as high as fifth in the World Championships for the United States was defeated in her return to the mats at 136.5 pounds. Tonya Evinger, a student at Missouri Valley College, defeated Wolfe 11-8 in the semifinals.    Another women's bout of interest came at 165.25 pounds. Sandra Bacher, a 1999 World Champion at 149.75 pounds, decided on the day of weigh-ins to move up in weight and try her hand at the new weight class. Bacher, a three-time World medalist in wrestling, is also a three-time Olympian in judo. She pinned high school star Alicia Mena in 2:41 and moved on into the Challenge Tournament finals.    "Moving up was no big deal," said Bacher. "I fight in the Open Division in judo. That is a division with no limit. Sometimes the girls weigh over 100 pounds more than me. In this sport, weight is more of a difference. Typically, heavier girls are slower. As long as I keep my head on straight, I shouldn't have any problems."    Bacher will be fighting in the Judo World Championships in late July. If she wins these World Team Trials, she will also be wrestling in the Wrestling World Championships in New York City in September. Bacher has competed in both World Championships during the same year before, but this time would be special, with the Wrestling Worlds on home soil in New York City.    Back on the men's side, 1999 World Champion Stephen Neal looked spectacular, as he drilled college freshman and NCAA runner-up Tommy Rowlands by an 11-0 technical fall in just 1:11. Neal, who lost in the 2000 Olympic Team Trials to Kerry McCoy, is looking for a rematch on Sunday with his nemesis.    The 187.25 pound class in the men's division had some surprising results. 2000 Olympian Charles Burton, the top seed in the Challenge Tournament, was defeated by Brandon Eggum in overtime, 4-3. On the other side, Aaron Simpson stopped second seeded Lee Fullhart, 3-2.    At 167.5 pounds, one of the semifinals showcased a future star and a talented veteran perhaps going in different directions. Joe Heskett, who competes for Iowa State now, defeated former Illinois NCAA champion and 1998 World Team member Steve Marianetti, 5-4.     CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT FINALISTS  Men's Freestyle  119 - Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Mike Mena, Bloomington, Ind. (NYAC)   127.75 - Kerry Boumans, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC) vs. Dan Felix, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)   138.75 - Dustin DeNunzio, Cambridge, Mass. (Dave Schultz WC) vs. John Fisher, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)  152 - Chris Bono, Gilbert, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) vs. Chris Ayers, Bethlehem, Pa. (NYAC)   167.5  - Byron Tucker, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Joe Heskett, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  187.25 - Brandon Eggum, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minn. Storm) vs. Aaron Simpson, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)   213.75 - Chad Lamer, Coralville, Iowa (Hawkeye) vs. Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  286 - Stephen Neal, Bakersfield, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) vs. Tolly Thompson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)    Women's Freestyle  101.25 - Julie Gonzales, Vallejo, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC) vs. Clarissa Chun, Kapolei, Hawaii (Missouri Valley College)   112.25 - Jenny Wong, Stillwater, Minn. (Sunkist Kids) vs. Patricia Miranda, Saratoga, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC)    123.25 - Grace Magnussen, Walnut Creek, Calif. (Missouri Valley College) vs. Carrie Birge, Omaha, Neb. (Missouri Valley College)  136.25 - Tonya Evinger, Bates City, Mo. (Missouri Valley) vs. Tori Adams, Amarillo, Texas (Missouri Valley College)   149.75 - Kristie Marano, Albany, N.Y. (ATWA) vs. Katie Downing, Pendleton, Ind. (UM-Morris)   165.25 - Melani Macari, Fremont, Calif. (Missouri Valley College) vs. Sandra Bacher, San Jose, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC)