The 2001 USA Wrestling Freestyle Wrestler of the Year was Joe Williams of the Sunkist Kids, who claimed a World bronze medal and lost only one match the entire year. That loss was to 1996 Olympic champion Bouvaisa Saitiev of Russia, in a controversial semifinal battle at the World Championships.     Williams has started off the 2002 season with a similar dominance, winning his third U.S. Nationals title in April. Williams has won three straight World Cups, and was also fourth in the 1999 World Championships. He is aiming for a shot at Olympic glory, after placing third at the 2000 Olympic Trials and falling short of his goals. Williams was dominant in the U.S. Nationals finals, defeating surprise finalist Casey Cunningham of the Sunkist Kids, 9-1.     Cunningham, a past NCAA champion for Central Michigan, was a talented freestyler on the age-group level, and is off to his best season on the Senior circuit. Cunningham was impressive in a loaded field in Las Vegas, and now will have the confidence that he can win at this level.    Placing third at the U.S. Nationals was Ramico Blackmon of Team Excel, who has moved up to this weight after winning the U.S. Nationals last year at 152 pounds. Blackmon beat World and Olympic champion Daniel Igali of Canada during the 2002 Dave Schultz International, only to drop the finals match to talented Donny Pritzlaff of the Dave Schultz WC. Pritzlaff, a former Junior World Champion, placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals, and is expected to be a challenger throughout this Olympic cycle.    The last U.S. wrestler to beat Williams is Brian Dolph of the Dave Schultz WC, who stopped him in the finals of the Challenge Tournament at the 2000 Olympic Trials in Dallas, Texas. Dolph took last year off, but returned to the mats at the 2002 U.S. Nationals, placing sixth. Dolph is a dangerous veteran who knows how to win, and is somebody that can give the younger athletes serious trouble when he is on.    The No. 2 athlete on Team USA last year was Byron Tucker of the Sunkist Kids, the former NCAA champion for Oklahoma. Tucker had a slow start this season, but wrestled well with a win at the Pan American Championships. He skipped the U.S. Nationals, but qualifies for the Challenge Tournament as a national team member. Tucker gave Williams two tight bouts in last year's World Team Trials and is looking for another shot this year.    Kirk White of the Dave Schultz WC, a past NCAA champion for Boise State, placed a strong fourth at the U.S. Nationals and has made great progress on the freestyle scene. Joe Heskett of the Sunkist Kids, who was ranked No. 3 on last year's Freestyle Team USA, placed seventh at the U.S. Nationals. Heskett was coming off his senior year at Iowa State, where he claimed his first NCAA title after taking two silver medals there.    The field could include a number of other athletes. Winning Regional titles were Greco-Roman Olympian David Zuniga and talented young James Woodall of the Nittany Lion WC. Four 2002 NCAA finalists could find themselves at this weight class in Saint Paul. Matt Lackey of the New York AC, who was second to Heskett at the NCAA meet, has had outstanding freestyle performances on the age-group levels. Luke Becker of Minnesota and Bryan Snyder of Nebraska are also eligible to participate, and could test their chances in freestyle by deciding to enter the World Team Trials. Qualifying by winning a medal at an international tournament in the last two years are Miron Kharchilava of Ohio International and Chris Ayres of the New York AC, two athletes with strong freestyle abilities.    Joe Williams has been one of the nation's top wrestlers over the last two years. He has the luxury of waiting for just one opponent to emerge from the Challenge Tournament for the finals series. At this point, which athlete will earn the right to face Williams is a true tossup. This weight class is loaded with talent and experience, and whoever makes the grade in the Challenge Tournament will provide Williams with stiff competition.    74 kg/163 lbs. qualifiers  National champion - Joe Williams, Coralville, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)   U.S. Nationals #2. Casey Cunningham, Mt. Pleasant, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)  U.S. Nationals #3. Ramico Blackmon, Monument, Colo. (Team Excel)  U.S. Nationals #4. Kirk White, Boise, Idaho (Dave Schultz WC)  U.S. Nationals #5. Donny Pritzlaff, Madison, Wis. (Dave Schultz WC)  U.S. Nationals #6. Brian Dolph, Ridley Park, Pa. (Dave Schultz WC)  U.S. Nationals #7. Joe Heskett, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  Team USA member - Byron Tucker, Norman, Okla. (Sunkist Kids)  NCAA Div. I finalist - Luke Becker, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)  NCAA Div. I finalist -Bryan Snyder, Lincoln, Neb. (Dave Schultz WC)  NCAA Div. I finalist -Matt Lackey, Urbana, Ill. (New York AC)  Regional champion - David Zuniga, New Brighton, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)  Regional champion -James Woodall, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion)  Medalist at Group A Tournament - Miron Kharchilava, Columbus, Ohio (Ohio International)  Medalist at Group A Tournament - Chris Ayres, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC)    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.