At the 2001 World Freestyle Championships in Bulgaria, the United States placed fifth as a team, with two individual medalists. However, for the first time since 1994, when the World meet was in Istabul, Turkey, the USA did not have an individual World Champion in men's freestyle.    The United States has been a World freestyle power for many decades. One of the reasons for this has been the ability of U.S. program to develop new stars and turn them into World Champions. This year, as the second year of the new Olympic four-year cycle, there is great expectation that a World Champion (or more) could emerge this season.    The most important factor in international wrestling this year is the change in international weight classes, from eight to seven. Winning a World title becomes even more difficult. The 2002 Las Vegas United States Wrestling Championships will be the first major domestic event with the new weight class structure.  The divisions are spread out more in the middle, and many athletes will be competing against new competitors this year.     Here is a weight-by-weight preview of the action:    55 KG/121 LBS.    The No. 1 man is young Stephen Abas, who completed his college career as a three-time NCAA champion from Fresno State. Abas competed in his first World Championships last fall, and is now concentrating just on freestyle. Abas added a World Cup gold in April with an impressive performance. Veteran Eric Akin, 1999 World team member, holds a No. 2 Team USA position, and will be hard pressed by young talents. Akin placed second at the last two Olympic Team Trials, and has substantial international experience. Mike Mena stands at No. 3, and has had a great early season, looking to move up on the ladder.    The lingering question is about 2000 Olympic silver medalist and 1998 World champion Sammie Henson. Will he compete, and will he be sharp? Surging star Teague Moore has won a pair of international meets, including a win over Henson. Jody Strittmatter, now concentrating on freestyle, won a silver at the Schultz International, almost beating the reigning World Champion.     The rest of the field is talented, including nationally ranked Tim Dernlan and T.J. Hill. College star Chris Fleeger will be a factor, and veteran Jeff Prescott can not be ignored. Marine Corps star Duaine Martin has dropped down in weight and will challenge, and Army star Eric Albarracin has potential to move high in the standings. Watch out for Patrick Cassidy and Marty Kusick, who had strong seasons last year.    60 KG/132 LBS.    World Team member Eric Guerrero returns as the favorite, and looks to take the next step in his career. His loss at the World meet was to eventual champion Giuvi Sissaouri of Canada, an indication of where Guerrero stands internationally. Sissaouri beat Guerrero again at the 2002 World Cup, but Guerrero had big wins against two World silver medalists in the meet. No. 2 Kerry Boumans is not expected to compete this year. Danny Felix, ranked No. 3 and a past U.S. Nationals runner-up, can be dangerous. Veteran Jason Kutz has had a strong season so far, and may be ready to take a run at the finals.    Young Michael Lightner, in his first full season in freestyle, has been impressive in early events. Cody Sanderson shows great promise, after switching from Greco to freestyle a year ago. Jesus Wilson, who placed for Cuba at the 1993 World Championships, became a citizen last year and is talented. The field has some other young gems, including former college stars Jeremy Hunter and Eric Juergens. Veterans Jeff Bedard and CC Fisher should be factors, as will Shane Valdez and Sean Kim.    66 KG/145.5 LBS.    This weight class is one of the truly jammed divisions, with stars coming from the old 138.75 class as well as the former 152 pound division. The top challengers have competed on U.S. teams, and are international stars. Chris Bono, No. 1 last year at 152, drops down to challenge here. Bill Zadick, No. 1 at 138.75, and a seveth-place finisher at the World meet, is also aiming to win here.  Bono looked solid in some early season international events, and Zadick won all of his matches during the 2002 World Cup, setting the stage for a possible showdown in Vegas.    Add to the mix 2000 Olympian and two-time World medalist Cary Kolat, who has been training and may return to action, and you could see some amazing action. The rest of the field is not shabby either. Veteran John Fisher, former National champ and ranked No. 2 at 138.75 pounds, is still strong. College star Eric Larkin was a Sunkist International champion this year, and a former Team USA member. Jamill Kelly has looked good at top international tournaments. Celso DeAnda was second to Bono at the Schultz International. Adam Tirapelle, NCAA champ a year ago, looks strong in freestyle, as does Reggie Wright, who finished up in college in 2001. Veteran Mike Eierman is always a threat and Jeremy Ensrud has been successful on the national level. Dustin DeNunzio, U.S. Nationals runner-up last year, is a factor if he enters. Also watch for Jesse Jantzen, Mike Mendoza and Joe Calavitta.    74 KG/163 LBS.    This division is also loaded, with stars from the former 152 pound and 167.5 pound divisions. The top favorite is 167.5-pound No. 1. Joe Williams, who won a World bronze medal last year and has looked impressive at this new division. Williams has won three straight World Cups, and was also fourth in the 1999 Worlds. No. 2 Byron Tucker had a rocky road in the early season, but has been strong in recent outings. The newcomer on the scene is 1998 Junior World champion Donny Pritzlaff, who won a pair of NCAA titles at Wisconsin and is now seeking freestyle gold. Ramico Blackmon, U.S. Nationals champion last year at 152 pounds, has moved up in weight and filled out in size. His battle with Pritzlaff in the Schultz International was an indication of how tough this class will be.    Joe Heskett, NCAA champion for Iowa State in March, has been very successful in freestyle, earning a spot on last year's Team USA. Yoshi Nakamura, the slick college star from Penn, turned heads by qualifying for Team USA last year as the No. 3 at 152 pounds. Past NCAA champion Casey Cunningham is back after missing a year with injury, and is wrestling well, as is former NCAA champion Kirk White. Andy Hrovat, who starred at Michigan, earned a national ranking last year at 167.5, as did Chris Ayres, former Lehigh star, at 152 pounds. The rest of the field is also strong, with proven people such as Matt Lackey, Rick Springman, Miron Kharchilava, Jared Lawrence, Dave Esposito, Joe Henson, Frank Trigg and Charles Daniels included in the mix. Every round at the U.S. Nationals in this weight class could feature some great bouts and potential upsets.    84 KG/185 LBS.    The big name in wrestling right now is Cael Sanderson, who set the standard as an undefeated four-time NCAA champion at Iowa State. Sanderson was the top U.S. freestyler at this division a year ago, but did not go to the World Championships when the meet was pushed back into the college season. Instead, No. 2 Brandon Eggum went to the Worlds and had the top U.S. performance, winning a World silver medal. This potential matchup would provide great drama, as Eggum has improved dramatically while Sanderson has concentrated on folkstyle.    No. 3 Aaron Simpson is always in the thick of things, and can be expected to be ready for U.S. Nationals. Lee Fullhart has had a strong early season on the international circuit, and was No. 3 in the 2000 Olympic Trials. Fullhart had some good battles during the 2002 World Cup. 2000 Olympian Charles Burton has the skill and experience to win this weight class. Randy Pugh, former UNI star, looked strong at the Sunkist Open and continues to improve. Markus Mollica, a two-time NCAA champion, has been a dangerous freestyle wrestler. Greco-Roman Olympian Quincey Clark has tried freestyle this year, and Armed Forces champion Kenny Owens may give it a go. Ken Bigley has shown promise. John Kading, Victor Sveda, Mark Smith and others may also make a run for the medals.    96 KG/211.5 LBS.    Dominic Black, the U.S. World t