Seeds are set for 2002 U.S. National Championships in Las Vegas, Nev.

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
04/25/2002


1 am in Vegas, so we are going to whip through these quickly.    SEEDED FREESTYLE WRESTLERS    55 KG/121 LBS.  With Abas not here, and Akin and Mena moving up a class, the top seed goes to Moore, who beat Olympic medalist Henson in a tourney in Canada this year. Strittmatter and Hill are also expected to make the semifinals. Other seeds are veterans Prescott and Albarracin.    60 KG/132 LBS.  The seeds went exactly as expected in the April rankings, with Guerrero, Kutz, Lightner and Felix claiming the top four. Moving up and getting No. 5 and 6 were Mena and Akin. Hinson is rewarded for a win over Kutz. Juergens, Hunter and Bedard go 8, 9, 10. Wilson, the naturalized citizen from Cuba and Iowa State's Azevedo close out the seeds.    66 KG/145.5 LBS.  In the debate over Zadick vs. Bono, both No. 1 last year but jammed into the new weight class, the coaches in the seeding meeting went with Zadick. Kelly grabbed the No. 3 seed, although some coaches pushed for Fisher or Jantzen. DeAnda is rewarded for his second place at the Schultz meet. Ensrud, Tirapelle and Eierman fall in next, with No. 10 going to young Schwab. Former OSU wrestler Wright gets No. 11, and NCAA runner-up Frayer of Oklahoma is 12th.    74 KG/163 LBS.  The top two were easy choices, World bronze medalist Williams and Schultz International champion Pritzlaff. A debate went hard for No. 3, which was awarded to last year's national champion at 69 kg Blackmon. Heskett, who was on Team USA last year, got No. 4. The return of Olympic Trials runner-up Dolph throws a monkey wrench in the picture. Dolph beat Williams in their last match at the 2000 Trials. This weight is jammed with talent, with Nakamura, Cunningham, White and Lackey all talents with bright futures. Seeds 10-14 will keep some tough kids from facing the top wrestlers in the early rounds.    84 KG/185 LBS.  Last years No. 1 Sanderson gets the nod, with Team USA member Aaron Simpson moving into No. 2. Fullhart, who has had a good year, and Olympic Burton close out the rankings in the top 4. Pugh, who has a win over World silver medalist Eggum (who did not come) goes at No. 5. Other veterans with seeds are Mollica, Harrington and Johnson, while young Pascoe is also in the mix.    96 KG/211.5 LBS.  This weight was a tough draw, with many talents and some strange head-to-head matchup. Black just finished his officer training and is not ready, so Lamer takes the No. 1 spot based on overall record. Hartung has been impressive lately and gets No. 2. Tobin, third a year ago at nationals but injured before Trials, gets No. 3. Munoz, who was considered for a higher seed, comes in fourth. Veteran Morrison is making a serious run and goes at No. 5. Young Thompson and Trenge are respected, and Davis, Lashley. Lawal and Preston close out the seeds.    120 KG/264.5 LBS.  As expected, the top two are Olympian McCoy and former national champion Thompson. Veteran Borzio is rewarded for consistency at No. 3. Keck, who goes both styles, gets No. 4. Young athletes Bowlby, Hoy and Fluckiger round out the seeds.    There were some key athletes missing, who might appear in time for the Trials in Minnesota. In addition, the new rule that allows NCAA finalists into the Trials may have kept a few of the college kids home. The field is large, in spite of the reduction to seven weights, and some of the classes are just packed.    SEEDED GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLERS    55 kg/121 lbs.  World and Olympic silver medalist Paulson is the dominant force here. Armed Forces champion Martin, dropping to this new weight, is a force. Schultz International champion Durlacher comes in at No. 3. USOEC star Espinoza grabs No. 4. Army wrestlers Santos and Gibbons snag seeds, as well as Brady Jones at No. 7. Closing out the seeds is No. 8 Rodak, the top hope for the Navy. Missing is 2001 national champion Cervone, who is injured and expected for Trials.    60 kg/132 lbs.  The anticipated war between Gruenwald and Hall is set up again. Gruenwald gets No. 1 for winning the Trials, even though Hall won the last bout at Sunkist. Nieradka could be a force at this new weight, at No. 3, with No. 4 going to Air Force veteran Hey. Warren has been tough since joining the Resident program in Colorado. This could be the breakthrough event for college star Lester. Wrapping up the seeds are Piasecki at No. 7 and Fox at No. 8.    66 kg145.5 lbs.  With two of last year's World Team members in the field, top seed goes to Bracken, who is moving up in weight, with No. 2 going to Cooper, who drops down in weight. Both will be seeing some new opponents from their old weights. Wilson comes in at No. 3 after placing second in the last Team Trials, and Woods, a nationals runner-up last year, takes No. 4. The rest of the seeds are all talents, with a hot Ellsworth at No. 5 and rugged Wood at No. 6. Two talented military stars, Shillow of the Marines at No. 7 and Garrison of the Army at No. 8 are also medal hopes. This weight will have tremendous early action and perhaps a memorable quarterfinal round.    74 kg/163 lbs.  This weight did not pick up many new faces from the shift in class, as most from the old 152 dropped down. Sieracki, the World Team member, gets No. 1 and goes for another national title. Dantzler, at No. 2, seeks to solve the Sieracki puzzle this time. Sims, a 2000 Olympian, gets the nod at No. 3, and has a win over Dantzler at Schultz this year. The rest of the field seeks to break into the upper crust. At No. 4 is Ciezki, a young talent. Marine Van Hoven has been tough at the new class. Emerging young athletes Christian, Clark and Posey close out the seeds.    84 kg/185 lbs.  Bosch, so close for so long, looks for his first gold medal. Olympic and World medalist Lindland is not here and neither is two-time Olympian Henderson. Bosch was second in the 2000 Olympic Trials and is a dangerous pinner. Vering has been coming on strong and gets No. 2. Clark, the 2000 Olympian seeks to return to form after a down 2001 season. Sonnen has been gaining experience and could break through this time at No. 5. Military wrestlers Owens and Clark of the Marines will be tough, and young Mike Mathers seeks to make a name for himself.    96 kg/211.75 lbs.  Olympic bronze medalist Lowney returns after another college season. How rusty he will be after taking on leg attacks and battling college heavyweights is yet to be seen. Hicks, a former Team USA athlete, was impressive winning the Armed Forces. Thatcher is the top new talent as No. 3 seed. National Team member Sankey comes in at No. 4, and Marine teammate Peterson gets No. 5. Sean Hage, the greatest Junior wrestler in history, returns to international wrestling after his college career ended. Justin Ruiz, who was a top age-group Greco star (and beat Lowney on the FILA Junior level) is getting back into the national swing after taking a mission. Kraemer takes the final seed.  1. Garrett Lowney, Freedom, Wis. (Minnesota Storm)    120 kg/264.5 lbs.  With Gardner still recoving from frostbite, Byers is the overwhelming choice at No. 1. Remember that he was the USA Wrestling Greco athlete of the Year the season before Gardner got famous. Farkas, who still has trouble with Byers but beats the others regularly, seeks another shot. The top returnee from the past is Pierce, who has been a Team USA guy but took off last season. Lamb, who was tough in the Navy, is done with college now too and has gotten back into Greco form. Young Etu was a Cadet World champion and seeks a Senior level medal. Devlin is another tough Army athlete, and emerging talents Boeshans and Gardner (this is LeRoy from the Div. III college ranks, not Rulon) close out the seeds.    Greco traditionally seeds eight in each weight. In some, there could have been even more, while a few weights are a little thin. This field will produce some great finals, and a few spectacular upsets if things go as expected.    SEEDED WOMEN'S WRESTLERS    48 kg (105.5 lbs.) *  With Saunders in the stands instead of on the mats, the World Team Trials runner-up Chun gets the No. 1 seed. A case was made for Miranda, a 2000 World silver medalist moving down, and her performance at the new weight will be a