2003 Freestyle World Team Trials preview at 60 kg/132 lbs.

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Gary Abbott (USA Wrestling)
05/31/2003


Eric Guerrero of the Gator WC has been the dominant force at this weight class since it was established in 2002. He has won the last two U.S. Nationals titles at 132 pounds, and also was the national champion at 127.75 pounds in 2001. In Las Vegas this year, he was awarded the Outstanding Wrestler in freestyle. Guerrero still seeks his first World medal, with his best performance being a seventh place at the 1999 World Championships. His gold medal at the 2003 World Cup gives him additional confidence that this may be the year to stand on the podium at the World meet. Guerrero has been a winner his entire career, from age-group national titles, to winning three NCAA titles for Oklahoma State, to a fast rise on the international level. Guerrero is a well-rounded athlete with skills in all positions and the ability to score points when needed.    He may be developing a rivalry with another past World Championships placewinner, Jesus Wilson of the Minnesota Storm. Wilson was sixth at the 1993 World Championships, competing for Cuba, then defected a year later. During the years that he spent seeking citizenship, Wilson was a Div. III champion for Upper Iowa University. Last year at the World Team Trials, Wilson made the finals and pushed Guerrero to a full three matches, losing two bouts to one. In the 2003 U.S. Nationals, he lost a 4-2 decision to Guerrero. Wilson was very tough in winning a silver medal at the 2003 World Cup, beating a number of tough foreign opponents.    One of the top surprises at the U.S. Freestyle Nationals this year was Mike Zadick of the Hawkeye WC, who made his first true attempt at the Senior level. By dropping in weight to 132 pounds and bringing his intense style to the mat, Zadick placed third at the nationals. After falling short of his goal of winning a NCAA title at Iowa, Zadick has set high goals for his freestyle career. He was a tough freestyler in high school, but nobody was sure how he might do against the nation's best. Now they know.    Making a comeback at this division is Yero Washington of the Sunkist Kids, who placed fourth at the U.S. Nationals. Washington, a former star at Fresno State, was a Team USA member a few years ago but took some time away from the mat. Now coaching at Columbia, Washington returned to freestyle this season and is again right in the mix at his weight class.    A pair of veterans, Dwight Hinson of the Sunkist Kids and Jason Kutz of the U.S. Army, placed fifth and sixth at the U.S. Nationals respectively. Hinson stopped Kutz, 4-0, in their fifth-place match. Kutz was No. 3 on Freestyle Team USA last year, and has turned in some good performances at international events. Both have the potential to make the World Team Trials finals if they get on a roll in Indianapolis.    Placing seventh at the U.S. Nationals is young Nate Gallick of the Cyclone WC, a student at Iowa State. Gallick surprised many by placing in Las Vegas ahead of many athletes with more freestyle experience. Although his eighth place at U.S. Nationals did not qualify him for the World Team Trials, C.C. Fisher of the New York AC made the field by winning one of the Regional events. Fisher, a USOTC resident athlete, will be a tough draw to whoever he faces in the Challenge Tournament.    Among the others who qualified for the Challenge Tournament field are Danny Felix of the Sunkist Kids, Michael Lightner of the Sunkist Kids and Eric Juergens of the Hawkeye WC. Felix has been near the top of the division in recent years, including a past silver-medal performance at the U.S. Nationals. Lightner was third at the 2002 U.S. Nationals, and has shown improvement in international competitions. Juergens has not competed much in freestyle in the last year, but could be a strong contender if he has decided to give the Senior level his best shot.    All of the NCAA Div. I finalists receive automatic spots in the World Team Trials Challenge Tournament. This weight class could feature a few college athletes who might beat some of the veterans. Chris Fleeger of the Dave Schultz WC was second at the NCAA Tournament at 125 pounds for Purdue and has been competing at this division in freestyle. He has placed at the U.S. Nationals in the past, and has impressive freestyle skills. Johnny Thompson of Oklahoma State, a two-time NCAA champion, has done very little freestyle during his career. Should he choose to test himself, Thompson could surprise people with his competitive spirit and toughness. NCAA runner-up Ryan Lewis of Minnesota has competed in his share of age-group freestyle competitions, and might also make a dent at this weight class in Indianapolis.    Right now, the target is on Eric Guerrero, who has done a very good job keeping his opponents down within the United States. Jesus Wilson will be favored to win the Challenge Tournament and earn another chance to face Guerrero. However, Wilson can not overlook any of his opponents in this division, which has a mix of experience and youthful talent. Fans can expect some tremendous battles in this weight class, and will witness a high level of technique and skill throughout the weekend in Indianapolis.     2003 U.S. Freestyle Nationals results at 60 kg/132 lbs.  1st - Eric Guerrero (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC) dec. Jesus Wilson (Fayette, Iowa/Minnesota Storm), 4-2  3rd - Mike Zadick (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC) dec. Yero Washington (Hoboken, N.J./Sunkist Kids), 4-0  5th - Dwight Hinson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) dec. Jason Kutz (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), 4-0  7th - Nate Gallick (Tucson, Ariz./Cyclone WC) dec. C.C. Fisher (Colorado Springs, Colo./Team Excel), 5-3    2003 Freestyle World Team Trials qualifiers at 60 kg/132 lbs.  National champion - Eric Guerrero, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  National placerwinners - 2. Jesus Wilson (Fayette, Iowa/Minnesota Storm); 3. Mike Zadick (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC); 4. Yero Washington (Hoboken, N.J./Sunkist Kids); 5. Dwight Hinson (Ames, Iowa/Sunkist Kids); 6. Jason Kutz (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army); 7. Nate Gallick (Tucson, Ariz./Cyclone WC)   NCAA Div. I finalists - Johnny Thompson (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC); Ryan Lewis (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm); Chris Fleeger (W. Lafayette, Ind./Purdue WC); Regional champions - C.C. Fisher (Colorado Springs, Colo./Team Excel); Danny Felix (Chandler, Ariz./Sunkist Kids); Eric Juergens (Iowa City, Iowa/Hawkeye WC); Medalist at Group A Tournament -  Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla./Sunkist Kids)