One of the most competitive weight divisions in the nation is the new 145.5-pound class, which features athletes who wrestled at 138.75 pounds last year, as well as a few who were wrestling at 152 pounds. Both of the 2001 U.S. World Team members at those old weight classes have migrated here, but only one of them could be this year's U.S. Nationals champion. That ended up being Bill Zadick of the Hawkeye WC, who wrestled in the World Championships last year at 138.75 pounds and placed seventh.    Zadick didn't have to face the 152-pound World Team member Chris Bono of the Sunkist Kids at the U.S. Nationals, however. Bono was defeated in the semifinals by emerging star Jamill Kelly of the Gator WC and ended up third. Zadick defeated Kelly 4-0 in overtime in the U.S. Nationals finals for his second straight U.S. Nationals title. Zadick also had a strong performance at the 2002 World Cup, winning all three of the matches that he competed in during the event. After a few years at No. 2 behind Olympian Cary Kolat, Zadick has done what it takes to be No. 1 the last two years and will it be difficult for anybody to take it away from him.    Kelly, who earned a No. 3 Team USA ranking at 138.75 pounds last year, has continued to excel in freestyle. The former Oklahoma State athlete has been adding to his international experience and should be a force for many years. Bono, who spent a number of years behind Olympic medalist Lincoln McIlravy before moving to the No. 1 spot last year, has as much experience as anybody in the nation. His victory at the 2002 Dave Schultz International, as well as a few good foreign tour performances, was an indication that Bono could manage the drop in weight class well.    Going into the U.S. Nationals, it was rumored that Kolat, who won a pair of World medals in addition to his Olympic appearance, was planning to return to the mats this year. After Kolat did not attend the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas, it became unclear if he would return to competition. Should be decide to wrestle, Kolat becomes an immediate contender. The new 145.5-pound class seems perfect for Kolat, who wrestled at 142 in college.    Placing fourth at the U.S. Nationals was Doug Schwab of the Hawkeye WC, who has improved quickly on the international scene. He lost just 3-2 to Bono in the bronze-medal match in Las Vegas. Placing fifth was Jesse Jantzen of the Dave Schultz WC, the star from Harvard who was also third at last year's U.S. Nationals. Both Schwab and Jantzen could become fixtures on the freestyle scene for a number of years.    Veteran John Fisher of the Sunkist Kids, who was sixth in Las Vegas,  continues to impress, even at the age of 36. Fisher was a U.S. Nationals champion in 1992, but was unable to make a U.S. World or Olympic team behind stars such as John Smith, Tom Brands, Kolat and Zadick. He is very competitive with everybody in the division, and must be taken seriously by every opponent. The final qualifier from the U.S. Nationals was Adam Tirapelle of the Dave Schultz WC, a NCAA champion for the Univ. of Illinois who is making the commitment to compete on the Olympic level.    The challenge tournament should be loaded with talent. Winning a Regional title to qualify was Reggie Wright, the former Oklahoma State star who is getting better in freestyle at every event. Celso DeAnda of Team Excel qualified for the field by placing second to Bono at the Dave Schultz International, and has beaten some tough opponents in recent years. Mike Mendoza of the Dave Schultz WC, a placewinner at the 2001 Dave Schultz event, is also competitive at this level.    The new rule that allows NCAA finalists to compete in the Challenge Tournament could draw athletes from two weight classes to 145.5 pounds. Two of these athletes have already had outstanding freestyle accomplishments. Jared Lawrence of Minnesota, the NCAA champion at 149 pounds, has been a Junior World medalist. Eric Larkin of Arizona State, who was the NCAA runnerup at 141 pounds, was No. 3 on Freestyle Team USA in 2001, and won the Sunkist Kids International this year. Aaron Holker, the 141 pound NCAA champion from Iowa State, and Jared Frayer of Oklahoma, second in the NCAA behind Lawrence, would also be competitive if they choose to participate in the World Team Trials.    The depth in this division is excellent, and the early matches at the Challenge Tournament should be fierce. Bono and Kelly are expected to do very well, but it would not be shocking if one of the other contenders makes a step up this year. By winning the U.S. Nationals and moving directly to the finals series, Zadick avoids the perils of facing a number of tough athletes. Zadick will wait for one challenger to emerge. Whoever it is, it should be a very talented and motivated athlete that Zadick will have to beat twice in one day.     66 kg/145.5 lbs. qualifiers  National champion - Bill Zadick, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye)  U.S. Nationals #2 - Jamill Kelly, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  U.S. Nationals #3 - Chris Bono, Gilbert, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals #4 - Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)  U.S. Nationals #5 - Jesse Jantzen, Cambridge, Mass. (Dave Schultz WC)  U.S. Nationals #6 - John Fisher, Flint, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals #7 - Adam Tirapelle, Champaign, Ill. (Dave Schultz WC)  World and Olympic team member - Cary Kolat, Lock Haven, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC)  NCAA Div. I finalist - Aaron Holker, Ames, Iowa (Cyclone WC)  NCAA Div. I finalist - Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)  NCAA Div. I finalist - Jared Lawrence, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)  NCAA Div. I finalist - Jared Frayer, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)  Regional champion - Reggie Wright, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)  Regional champion - Nick Mitchell, Waverly, Iowa (Knights WC)  Medalist at Group A tournament - Celso DeAnda, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Team Excel)  Medalist at Group A tournament - Mike Mendoza, Alamosa, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC)    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.