Indiana native Katie Downing of the Sunkist Kids claimed her first U.S. Nationals title this year, making her the hometown favorite in the women's division in Indianapolis. Downing was a 2002 World Team Trials champion, but did not compete at the World Championships after dropping a Special Wrestle-off to veteran star Kristie Marano. Downing won a Junior World medal earlier in her career, and has done her best wrestling at 147.5 pounds. Downing was the greatest women's wrestler to compete at UM-Morris, setting the standard for the nation's first women's college wrestling program.    Downing defeated Kaci Lyle in the finals of both the U.S. Nationals and the University Nationals this year. Both Downing and Lyle are full-time USOTC resident athletes. Both will consider a change to the highest weight class next year, for a shot at one of the four Olympic team spots. Both Downing and Lyle were second at the 2002 U.S. Nationals, but were competing in different weight classes. The matches between these two are usually very close and competitive. Lyle came to the USOTC resident program after competing in college, last season with Pacific Univ. and previously Missouri Valley College.    The results from the World Team Trials may not determine the U.S. World Team member at this division. Last year, there was a challenge from Marano, who moved up from 138.75 pounds. There are also athletes at the 158.5 pound division that potentially could drop in weight and also seek a Special Wrestle-off. The question for Downing, Lyle and the others is whether they have improved enough this season to defeat all comers if a Wrestle-off Challenge is issued.    Young Stephany Lee of the Hawaii Rainbow Wahines captured third place at the U.S. Nationals, quickly making a name on the Senior level. Lee showed her skills at the age-group Women's Nationals event in Minnesota earlier this spring, then put together a great tournament in Las Vegas. Spending her first year after high school without going to a women's wrestling college, Lee showed her stuff nationally and is expected to enter Missouri Valley in the fall. Coaches are excited about her competitive nature, as well as her judo background.    Claiming fourth at the U.S. Nationals was high school sensation Ali Bernard, who will be competing on the 2003 U.S. Junior World Team. Bernard has paid her dues, competing in as many international events as possible and could be one of the young athletes who are establishing their place in women's wrestling's future. Another high school star, Ohio's Heather Martin of Keystone WC, placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals and has a tremendous future in women's wrestling. Martin was a champion at the first ASICS Junior National for girls, and has a history of success on the age-group levels.    College wrestler Kelly Branham of Missouri Valley, competing in her first full season on the freestyle circuit, captured sixth at the national championships. Branham defeated a number of more experienced wrestlers during the college season, and has shown the potential to improve.    Taking seventh and eighth respectively in Las Vegas were Cindy Herceg of Spartak and Mollie Keith of Missouri Valley. At last year's World Team Trials, Keith placed second behind Downing and Herceg was third. Keith had a tough college season, dropping some bouts to younger teammates, but seemed to return to form as the spring season heated up. She will need to be in top form if she hopes to return to Team USA this year. Herceg is a true club wrestler, having competed in track and field in college and taking up wrestling only in recent seasons. Her work ethic and toughness is a reason she has been able to be nationally competitive in her new sport.    High school star Nikia Jensen of the Minneapolis AWC was a Regional champion this year to qualify for the World Team Trials. Brandi Golt of Missouri Valley gets into the field because of a medal performance at a major international event. Elena Mena of Neosho County CC qualified for the World Team Trials at 158.5 pounds, but could chose to drop because she has competed at this division in the past.     This weight class sets up as an expected finals showdown between USOTC resident athletes Katie Downing and Kaci Lyle. However, the young stars in the division, including Stephany Lee, Ali Bernard and Heather Martin are looking to make the World Team Trials their breakthrough event. Cindy Herceg and Mollie Keith hope to improve their Las Vegas performance and work their way into the Challenge Tournament finals again. Should Lyle emerge to battle Downing, expect some close bouts between two athletes who know each other very well. It should be interesting to see if Downing can turn her hometown status into an home field advantage.    2003 U.S. Women's Nationals results at 67 kg/147.5 lbs.  1st - Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), 3-0  3rd - Stephany Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii/Rainbow Wahine WC) dec. Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./New Ulm Rolling Thunder), 8-4  5th - Heather Martin (Wellington, Ohio/Keystone WC) won by tech. fall over Kelly Branham (Apache Junction, Ariz./Missouri Valley), 10-0  7th - Cindy Herceg (Los Angeles, Calif./Santa Monica Bay WC) dec. Mollie Keith (Aurelia, Iowa/Missouri Valley), 5-4    2003 Women's World Team Trials qualifiers at 67 kg (147.5 lbs.)  National champion - Katie Downing (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)  National placerwinners - 2. Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids); 3. Stephany Lee (Honolulu, Hawaii/Rainbow Wahine WC); 4. Ali Bernard (New Ulm, Minn./New Ulm Rolling Thunder); 5. Heather Martin (Wellington, Ohio/Keystone WC); 6. Kelly Branham (Apache Junction, Ariz./Missouri Valley); 7. Cindy Herceg (Los Angeles, Calif./Santa Monica Bay WC); 8. Mollie Keith (Aurelia, Iowa/Missouri Valley)  Regional champions - Nickia Jensen (Eden Prairie, Minn./Minneapolis AWC); Medalist at Group A Tournament - Brandi Golt (Chesapeake, Va./Missouri Valley)