This is one of the most talented groups of women athletes in the nation, with a wide variety of experience and potential. Leading the parade is Stephanie Murata of the Sunkist Kids, a 2001 World silver medalist who has won the U.S. Nationals for seven straight years. Murata is one of the veterans who have helped the United States become a World power in the sport. After twice placing fourth in the World, just one excrutiating win away from a medal, Murata's silver medal at 112 pounds last year was a worthy reward for all of her hard work and talent. She has moved up in weight to compete in this Olympic weight class, and continues to use strength and technique to defeat her foes.    An athlete who did not qualify through the U.S. Nationals may be the favorite to win the Challenge Tournament and go toe-to-toe with Murata. Tina George of the U.S. Army has competed on the last three U.S. World Teams in this weight class, a World teammate of the lighter Murata. George had her best World meet by placing sixth in 1999, when the U.S. claimed the World Team title. George is very strong and has great speed and skills, and is now in the respected Army World Class Athlete Program. She arrived late for her opening match at the U.S. Nationals this year and lost by forfeit, forcing her to withdraw. Her opponents had better be ready for her in Saint Paul, where it is doubtful that she will miss the opening whistle.    No athlete has faced the frustration of just missing her goals as much as Malissa Sherwood of Stars and Stripes, who lost to Murata in a rugged 6-2 gold-medal match this year in Las Vegas. Sherwood has placed second at the U.S. Nationals six times and second in the World Team Trials another time. She has great talent, winning the Outstanding Wrestler at the Dave Schultz International in 2000, and taking three straight gold medals early in the 2002 season. Sherwood physically pounds on her opponents and has impressive upper-body throwing techniques. To make a U.S. World Team would be a tremendous reward for years of competing at a high level.    Two of America's top young athletes were in the bronze-medal match at Las Vegas, third-place Marcie Van Dusen of the MFWC and fourth-place Brooke Bogren of the Santa Fe WC. Van Dusen filled her trophy case with age-group national titles and World medals as a phenom out of California, but has been away from the mats for a few season. Bogren, a national champion on the FILA Cadet and FILA Junior levels, is a graduating high school senior from Kansas who competed at her first U.S. Senior Nationals. Both have the goods to become future stars on the Olympic scene.    Two athletes from Pacific University were next in the standings in Vegas, fifth-place Tela O'Donnell and sixth place Jill Remiticado. O'Donnell has shown great talent, including a victory at the NAIA Coaches Association event early this year. She had Murata in danger of a fall during the U.S. Nationals semifinals, but Murata righted herself and took over the match. Remiticado has qualified for the World Team Trials for the second straight year, and her involvement in the Pacific program is one of the reasons the college has chosen to build a strong women's club.    Pacific also boasted the seventh place athlete, young Desi Lockhart, who was followed by Lisa Ward of Missouri Valley in eighth place in Las Vegas. Neither are expected to challenge for the World Team spot, but both could continue their improvement by competing in Saint Paul. Three other qualifiers for the event may be in the field, all who qualified by placing at a major international event: Medalist at FILA A event - Jessica Shirley of Cumberland College, Sarah Tolin of the Dave Schultz WC and Hillary Wolf of the New York AC. Wolf is the most intriguing, a two-time Olympic judo athlete who tried wrestling for the first time this year and has shown great skill.     As an Olympic weight class, this division could see some more athletes moving in from either below or above. Athletes who might consider dropping down are 2001 World Team member Erin Tomeo, veterans Tonya Evinger and Grace Magnussen or high school star Brandy Rosenbrock. They enter this division at great peril, considering the tremendous talent and depth in the field.    The only thing certain about this division is that veteran star Stephanie Murata will be in the gold-medal finals. The Challenge Tournament will be fiercely contested, with George and Sherwood favored to emerge but many others with legitimate chances. Many fans might wish to see a Murata vs. George finals, but there will be no guarantees in this rugged weight class.    55 kg (121 lbs.) qualifiers  National champion - Stephanie Murata, Minden, Nev. (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals #2 - Malissa Sherwood, Bates City, Mo. (Stars and Stripes)  U.S. Nationals #3 - Marcie Van Dusen, Twin Peaks, Calif. (MFWC)  U.S. Nationals #4 - Brooke Bogren, Carbondale, Kan. (Sante Fe WC)  U.S. Nationals #5 - Tela O'Donnell, Homer, Alaska (Pacific)  U.S. Nationals #6 - Jill Remiticado, Forest Grove, Ore. (Pacific)  U.S. Nationals #7 - Desi Lockhart, Forest Grove, Ore. (Pacific)  U.S. Nationals #8 - Lisa Ward, Woodinville, Wash. (Missouri Valley)  Team USA member - Tina George-Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  Medalist at FILA A event - Jessica Shirley, Galion, Ohio (Cumberland College)  Medalist at FILA A event -Sarah Tolin, Casper, Wyo. (Dave Schultz WC)  Medalist at FILA A event -Hillary Wolf, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)    Women's Freestyle criteria: 1. Top eight at the 2002 Senior National Championships; 2. Current National Team Member - Top three; 3. Top three Finisher in a FILA A Championship in the past three years, including the Pan Ams, but not Sunkist; 4. 2002 University National Champion; 5. Past World Team Member; 6. 2002 Regional Tournament Champion from the Northeast and Northern Plains Regionals; 7. Medalist at Junior World Championships in the past two years    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.