This year, FILA lowered the highest weight class in women's wrestling to 158.5 pounds, down from the 165 pound limit from the previous years. This move has not eliminated any of the top contenders from the United States from competing due to size, but it has made the weight class a bit more interesting. Some of the bigger athletes have had to drop some weight, while others have moved up from the old 149.75 pound division.    Winning a U.S. Nationals gold medal for the third straight year was Iris Smith of the U.S. Army. Smith competed in the 2000 World Championships for the United States, but was unable to wrestle in the rescheduled 2001 World Championships due to her Army basic training. At this point in her career, Smith has combined strength, experience and confidence and has developed an edge over her top U.S. rivals. What Smith lacks is a medal at the World Championships, something that she hopes to take care of this year.    Placing second to Smith at the U.S. Nationals was Kaci Lyle of Pacific, who moved up to this division for the nationals. She lost to Smith in the finals, 6-0, and showed that she will be a strong challenger here. Lyle has been nationally ranked for a few seasons now, and has developed into a top freestyler after a strong age-group level career.     Taking third at the U.S. Nationals was Satrinina Vernon of Missouri Valley College, another talented athlete who has been near the top in recent seasons. Vernon is a former U.S. Nationals runner-up, and has the power and skills to be a champion if she can put it all together. Another top college wrestler placed fourth in Las Vegas, Samantha Branka of UM-Morris, a hard-working athlete who has shown improvement in the last two seasons.    Lock Haven's Jenna Pavlik won a spot on the 2001 U.S. World Team by claiming a gold medal at the Sunkist International Open, and placed fifth in the 2001 World Championships as the replacement for Smith. Pavlik has not competed in freestyle since then, and was not in the field at the U.S. Nationals. She has not competed at the new weight class yet, so it remains to be seen how that will affect her performance should she decide to enter in Saint Paul.    The rest of the placewinners from the U.S. Nationals also came from the college ranks. Donnell Bradley of Missouri Valley College was fifth in Las Vegas, followed by Randi Miller of the Dave Schultz WC. Miller wrestles for Neosho County CC. Both athletes have shown promise, and are gaining experience with each major event.    Placing seventh was Rachel Glogowski, who runs the club program at Messiah College. The eighth place finisher at the U.S. Nationals was Alicia Wilson of the Minnesota Storm, who wrestles for UM-Morris.    Two members of Women's Team USA did not compete at the U.S. Nationals but are qualified for the Challenge Tournament if they choose to compete. Ranked No. 2 is Sandra Bacher Fakaosi, a 2000 World Champion who moved up in weight at last year's World Team Trials. Bacher Fakaosi has competed in three Olympics in judo, and has indicated that she would like to make a fourth Olympic team in 2004, but this time in wrestling. Her three career World medals in women's wrestling makes her goal something that is very conceivable. Bacher Fakaosi has not competed in wrestling this season, and it is questionable whether she will be in Saint Paul.     The other national team member who is eligible is No. 3 Melani Macari-Montierth, who last wrestled at the Women's World Cup in France in the fall. She did not compete at Missouri Valley College this season, and it is uncertain if she is going to appear on the mats this year. Dominique Smalley, a 2000 Junior World Champion, is also eligible for the Challenge Tournament, but she has not competed this season, as well.     Heading into the World Team Trials, Iris Smith remains a strong favorite at this division. The interesting battle will be in the Challenge Tournament, which should be won by the athlete who has improved the most since the U.S. Nationals. Some of these athletes have been training in Colorado Springs during the two-month period, and may have some new techniques and tactics to use in Saint Paul. If any of the athletes who skipped the U.S. Nationals but have qualified to compete decide to wrestle, the Challenge Tournament could take some interesting twists.     72 kg (158.5 lbs.) qualifiers  National champion - Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  U.S. Nationals #2 - Kaci Lyle, Eureka, Calif. (Pacific)  U.S. Nationals #3 - Satrinina Vernon, Rodeo, Calif. (Missouri Valley)  U.S. Nationals #4 - Samantha Branka, Lincoln Park, Mich. (UM-Morris)  U.S. Nationals #5 - Donnell Bradley, Aiea, Hawaii (Missouri Valley)  U.S. Nationals #6 - Randi Miller, Arlington, Texas (Dave Schultz WC)  U.S. Nationals #7 - Rachel Glogowski, Mechanicsburg, Pa. (Messiah WC)  U.S. Nationals #8 - Alicia Wilson, Santee, Calif. (Minnesota Storm)  Team USA member - Sandra Bacher Fakaosi, San Jose, Calif. (Dave Schultz WC)  Team USA member - Melani Macari, Fremont, Calif. (unattached)  Junior World medalist - Dominique Smalley, Iowa City, Iowa (unattached)  Past World Team member - Jenna Pavlik, Lewes, Del. (Lock Haven)    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.