One of the top surprises from the 2003 U.S. Women's Nationals was the gold-medal performance by young Malinda Ripley of the Sunkist Kids, who claimed her first Senior national title. A year ago, Ripley was a high school senior in California, who had placed fifth at the World Team Trials at 105.5 pounds. She was accepted into the USOTC resident program, the youngest person in Coach Steiner's stable of athletes. In addition to moving up a division, Ripley had to contend with a challenging injury that kept her off the mats for months. Nobody was sure how ready she would be for Las Vegas.    Ripley defeated 2002 U.S. Nationals champion Jenny Wong of the Sunkist Kids in the finals, 5-2. Wong, also a USOTC resident athlete, has had a strong season. Highlights of Wong's season included a dominant win at the University Nationals in April, and a medal at the Yarygin Memorial in Russia. She has the most experience of the athletes competing at this division now, and will work hard to get another chance to face Ripley in Indianapolis.    As a non-Olympic weight, the results from the World Team Trials may not determine the U.S. World Team member. Just like last year, medalists from the Olympic weight classes may challenge the World Team Trials winner for a spot on the U.S. team to compete in New York City, Sept. 12-14. In addition, this is not a weight division that will be contested at the Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic in August.     Last year, Wong won the World Team Trials, but was defeated in a Special Wrestle-off for the U.S. World team, by 2001 World silver medalist Stephanie Murata of the Sunkist Kids. This year, Murata is competing up at 121 pounds again. Whoever wins the Trials in Indianapolis may be open to a Special Wrestle-off from athletes medalling at 105.5 pounds or 121 pounds.     Placing third at the U.S. Nationals was USOTC resident athlete Katie Kunimoto of the Gator WC. Kunimoto lost to Wong in the finals of the 2002 World Team Trials. She rebounded from some disappointing performances this winter, including a fifth place at the University Nationals. Kunimoto is still learning freestyle, and has shown technical progress since last year when she emerged on the national level.    Among the exciting high school stars on the scene are Debbi Sakai of the Rainbow Wahine WC of Hawaii, who was fourth at the U.S. Nationals. Sakai scored a victory at the Junior World Team Trials this year, and has done well in other freestyle competitions.     The next two places at the U.S. Nationals featured college stars Patrice Crenshaw of UM-Morris and Sarah Hayes of Cumberland College. Crenshaw defeated Hayes by pin in the fifth-place match at the U.S. Nationals. Crenshaw, who represents the Minnesota Storm, scored a win over Kunimoto at the University Nationals. She ended the college season as the top-ranked collegian at her division. Hayes has also shown improvement throughout the year, taking a step ahead of the pack at many competitions.    Cheryl Wong of the Dave Schultz WC finished seventh at the U.S. Nationals, her top performance after a number of years at the event. Placing eighth in Las Vegas was high school star Sarah Bergman of the Minneapolis club in Minnesota, one of the many young Minnesota women wrestlers who are making a name in the sport. The final qualifier at this division is Marianne Vollmer of Missouri Valley College, who earned a spot in the field by winning a medal at a major international event in the past three seasons. Vollmer has turned in some strong performances in the past, but has lacked consistency at this level.    The Challenge Tournament will be a test of veteran Jenny Wong, who hopes to dominate the competition and move into the Championship Series against Malinda Ripley. Based upon past performance, Wong will be heavily favored to make it into the finals, but certainly, nothing is guaranteed with some tough young athletes looking for an upset. If Wong gets through, it would not be surprising to see her battle with Ripley go the full three matches. Whoever wins will then have to wait and see if they will be called out for a Challenge from somebody at an Olympic weight class.    2003 U.S. Women's Nationals results at 51 kg/112 lbs.  1st - Malinda Ripley (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec.  Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 5-2  3rd - Katie Kunimoto (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC) by fall over Debbi Sakai (Honolulu, Hawaii/Wahine WC), 1:03  5th - Patrice Crenshaw (Morris, Minn./Minnesota Storm) by fall over Sarah Hayes (Broomfield, Colo./Cumberland), 2:35  7th - Cheryl Wong (Boston, Mass./Dave Schultz WC) by inj. default over Sarah Bergman (Otsego, Minn./MPIS)    2003 Women's World Team Trials qualifiers at 51 kg (112 lbs.)  National champion - Malinda Ripley (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)  National placerwinners - 2.  Jenny Wong (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids); 3. Katie Kunimoto (Colorado Springs, Colo./Gator WC); 4. Debbi Sakai (Honolulu, Hawaii/Wahine WC); 5. Patrice Crenshaw (East Point, Ga./Minnesota Storm); 6.  Sarah Hayes (Broomfield, Colo./Cumberland); 7. Cheryl Wong (Boston, Mass./Dave Schultz WC); 8. Sarah Bergman (Otsego, Minn./MPLS)  Medalist at Group A Tournament - Marianne Vollmer (Grayling, Mich./Missouri Valley)