The new U.S. Nationals champion is Teague Moore of the Gator WC, who has had his best international freestyle season to date. Moore, a former NCAA champion at Oklahoma State, has always been a skilled freestyler, and he has shown tremendous improvement this year. He has won two international tournaments this year, including a victory of 2000 Olympic silver medalist Sammie Henson of the Sunkist Kids in an event in Canada. Moore was in control for a 7-2 win over Jody Stittmatter of the Hawkeye WC in the U.S. Nationals finals.     Strittmatter has been impressive, with some great matches against top stars. He beat Henson in the semifinals at the U.S. Nationals, jumping to an early lead then holding off a late Henson charge. At the Dave Schultz International finals, Strittmatter jumped out in front of 2001 World Champion German Kontoev of Belarus, only to lose late in the bout. This former Iowa Hawkeye has a height advantage on most opponents, and seems to be improving rapidly.    The fate of Henson in this division is yet to be determined. A 1998 World Champion, Henson took the 2001 season off. He returned to the mats this fall, and has been just short of his former champion self. With the right approach and training, Henson has the ability to once again battle for World honors, but only if he can beat the tough young Americans. Henson dropped out of the U.S. Nationals after the Strittmatter loss, but qualifies based upon his Olympic and World honors.    The other unknown at this point is Stephen Abas of the Sunkist Kids, the No. 1 wrestler in the nation last year. Abas completed his senior year at Fresno State with his third NCAA title. He also competed at the 2002 World Cup, impressively claiming the gold medal. However, he chose to skip the U.S. Nationals and must battle through the Challenge Tournament. A past Junior World Champion, Abas is competitive on the world level, losing to eventual champion Kontoev in his pool at the World meet last fall.    Jeff Prescott of the New York AC, the former NCAA champion from Penn State, is a seasoned veteran, and placed a strong third at the U.S. Nationals. Prescott has made the commitment to the USOTC resident program, and is coming off a very strong year. The fourth place finisher at the U.S. Nationals, young Grant Nakamura of the Cyclone WC, is unproven but showed great potential in Las Vegas.    Two other stars might be in the mix, if they choose to drop down from 132 pounds. Eric Akin of the Dave Schultz WC, the 1999 World Team member and two-time Olympic Trials runner-up, was No. 2 at this weight class last year, and Mike Mena of the New York AC was the No. 3 man. Akin made the U.S. Nationals finals at 132 this year, and Mena placed sixth. It would not be surprising if both dropped the weight and made a run at 121 pounds again.    Eric Albarracin of the U.S. Army, a veteran who has the potential to be a finalist, placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals. The final placewinners at the U.S. Nationals who will be in the field in Saint Paul will be Rocco Mansueto of the Cleveland WC and Gavin James of New Mexico, neither who have much experience at this level.     There could be some other top contenders coming from the Challenge Tournament. Veteran Tim Dernlan, a Regional champion, did not compete in the U.S. Nationals due to injury but has been a national placer in freestyle in the past. T.J. Hill of Team Hoggs, a past Junior World champion, wrestles with passion and fury. NCAA runner-up Luke Eustice could surprise people if he chooses to give this event a test. Other qualifiers could include Regional champion Jasper Hubbert of the Minnesota Storm, plus Jason Powell of the Husker WC and Martin Kusick of the Sunkist Kids.    This weight division is loaded with talent and experience, especially if everybody who is eligible decides to try out. Moore, by winning the U.S. Nationals and qualifying for the finals series, has the advantage, both in confidence and the ability to skip the Challenge Tournament. Wrestling fans will not want to miss the Challenge Tournament at this division, as there should be fireworks from the opening whistle. The U.S. has a strong group of lightweight athletes on display.    MEN'S FREESTYLE  55 kg/121 lbs.  National champion - Teague Moore, Norman, Okla. (Gator WC)  U.S. Nationals #2 - Jody Strittmatter, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)  U.S. Nationals #3 - Jeff Prescott, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  U.S. Nationals #4 - Grant Nakamura, Ames, Iowa (Cyclone)  U.S. Nationals #5 - Eric Albarracin, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)  U.S. Nationals #6 - Rocco Mansueto, Cleveland, Ohio, (Cleveland WC)  U.S. Nationals #7 - Gavin James, Farnington, N.M. (unattached)  Team USA member - Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)  NCAA Div. I finalist - Luke Eustice, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)  World and Olympic team member - Sammie Henson, State College, Pa. (Sunkist Kids)  Regional champion - Jasper Hubbert, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)  Regional champion - Tim Dernlan, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC)  Junior World medalist - T.J. Hill, Farmington, Mo. (Team Hoggs)  Junior World medalist - Jason Powell, Lincoln, Neb. (Husker WC)  Medalist at Group A Tournament -  Martin Kusick, Baltimore, Md. (Sunkist Kids)    Men's Freestyle criteria: 1. Top seven at 2002 Senior National Championships; 2. Current National Team Member - Top three; 3. Top three Finisher in a FILA A Championships in the past two years including Pan Ams, but not Sunkist; 4. Past World or Olympic Team Member; 5. Medalist at Junior World Championships in the past two years; 6. 2002 NCAA Div. I Finalist; 7. 2002 Regional Tournament Champion from the Northeast, Northern Plains and Rocky Mountain Regionals    Note 1: Some athletes qualified in more than one way, although just one is noted in this list.  Note 2: Other wrestlers who meet qualifying criterion may identify themselves, and will be added to this list leading up to the event. Some of the anticipated qualifiers may choose not to attend.    Starting on May 30, TheMat.com will feature a daily interview with one of the 2002 U.S. Nationals champions, as well as a preview of that weight class for the upcoming World Team Trials, set for Saint Paul, Minn., June 21-23. Visit TheMat.com daily to read about America's best international athletes and learn about the exciting action expected at this year's World Team Trials.