Wrestling fans have been looking forward to the battle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. in freestyle wrestling all year. It is expected to be a wide open race, with so much talent and intrigue that even the early rounds should be spectacular. The U.S. Nationals will be held in Las Vegas, and it would take a champion handicapper to set the odds at this weight class.    The biggest surprise of the 2003 season was Jamill Kelly, who tore through a talented field to capture the top spot at the 2003 World Team Trials. Kelly, who has tremendous talent and confidence, did not place at the World Championships, which took away some of the luster of his achievements. Kelly will seek to show everybody that last year was the rule, not the exception. People forget that Kelly was No. 3 on the Team USA ladded for two straight years, and that he has a real knack for freestyle. When Kelly is wrestling well, he is an explosive athlete who can score points in a hurry. He enters as the No. 1 athlete, but will face a full field of athletes who truly believe they can beat him.    Two-time World Team member Chris Bono lost to Kelly in the Trials finals last year, after Bono won the 2003 U.S. Nationals title. Bono has beaten many top foreign stars, and was the athlete who qualified this weight class for the Olympics through the Olympic Qualifying event in Slovakia. He defeated Iran's superstar Ali Reza Dabir in that event. Last year, he beat Irbek Farniev of Russia, who went on to win the World title. Bono has a strong international pedigree, but he has been dropping matches to talented young Americans. At the Sunkist International, he lost to Doug Schwab in the finals. At the New York AC Christmas International, it was Jared Frayer who beat Bono. The question is whether these were just early season letdowns, or if these young talents have raised their game to Bono's level.    At No. 3 is another past World Team member, Bill Zadick, who has a wealth of experience and freestyle savvy. Zadick was a true force when there was a 138.75 pound division, but has not been the top dog since FILA shuffled the weights and moved him into the 145.5 class. Nobody can question his experience or skills. Zadick has had trouble winning matches on a recent tour to Russia, but opponents should not get too worked up about that. Zadick is a battler and trains with passion, and will be ready for the test in Las Vegas.    A year ago, the buzz in this division was the return to competition by Olympic bronze medalist Lincoln McIlravy, who gave up his freestyle coaching job to pursue his Olympic dream. McIlravy found out that the drop to 145.5 pounds was not something that he could achieve and maintain his high level of wrestling. After losing to Kelly in the World Team Trials, McIlravy moved back to Iowa from Colorado Springs and has not competed since. Still young enough to be a world class wrestler, he is basically out of the sport because he no longer has a weight class.     The rest of the division is young and hungry, and will have tremendous battles in the earlier rounds of the U.S. Nationals. The quarterfinal round, and even the round of 16 in Las Vegas will offer some true gems. It would be fun to film every match of this division, because there should be some action truly worth watching again.    Coming off a great season is Jared Frayer, who has beaten a good number of top wrestlers. He made some noise at the 2003 Dave Schultz International with a win over the legend Cary Kolat, and then went on to take a gold medal. His win over Bono this year in the New York event kept his confidence up, as well as a victory in the same event over talented Eric Larkin. He missed the Dave Schultz for a medical reason, but is ready to go for Vegas. Frayer was a NCAA runner-up but has always been a better freestyler, and quickly found success on the international level.    Fans are very excited about the Olympic quest of 2003 NCAA champion Eric Larkin, who has made the commitment to seek a spot on the team. Larkin was third in the 2000 Olympic Trials while an underclassman in college. He has only gotten better since. His victory at the Dave Schultz Memorial this year was impressive. He has been training with the National Team coaches in Colorado Springs, and seems to have opened up his offense from the par terre position. Many believe he is ready right now to be the No. 1 wrestler in this division.    The Dave Schultz Memorial highlighted another over rising star, T.J. Williams, who reached the finals against Larkin and led in the match with a series of early takedowns. Williams has become a master on his feet, but is still learning the ground game in international wrestling. He was a tremendous talent in college and seems to have adapted well to this weight division, which has forced him to be even more lean physically. He would love to make the Olympic team alongside his brother Joe who is No. 1 up at 74 kg/163 lbs.     Doug Schwab has earned the right to be a true contender in this division, placing high at almost every event he enters. He has always wrestled Bono close, perhaps in a clash of styles. His Sunkist Kids International win over Bono was not something that was a surprise to those who have seen previous matches. Schwab is in great shape and has tremendous heart, and will be hard to beat every time he wrestles.    Tony Davis and Reggie Wright made their mark last year, placing high in the major national events. Both were successful college wrestlers. Wright has been doing international style wrestling longer, with much success in both styles when he was in high school in Illinois.     Tearing into the freestyle scene has been Jared Lawrence, who is in his first full year on the circuit after completing his college career. Lawrence made U.S. Junior World teams during his years competing at the Univ. of Minnesota, and brings strong freestyle skills to the party. He is already qualified for the Olympic Trials through the Regionals, but will also be seeking a medal performance in Las Vegas to further establish his position.     Also earning spots in the field in Indianapolis through the Regionals are veterans Jeremy Ensrud and Celso DeAnda. Both have proven competitive in this division, with many high placements in national level events. If the young athletes forget about these two wrestlers, they may run into a rude awakening. Another wrestler who has been moving upn the ladder in this division is Jamarr Billman, who has begun to concentrate on freestyle and has some strong recent showings.    NCAA champion Jesse Jantzen has indicated that he will pursue the Olympic dream, but it is not certain whether he will be a factor in this Olympic cycle. He has already been an all-American at the U.S. Nationals in the past, showing the ability to compete well in freestyle. He will have to drop some pounds from his college weight class to participate in this division, and it will be interesting to see how quickly he makes an impact in this field.    Nobody has even thought much about the ageless veteran John Fisher, who is still wrestling and can still beat quality opponents. Fisher has won a U.S. Nationals title in his prime, and continues to be in good shape physically. His experience will be a factor, especially in bouts against some of the younger talents. If Fisher makes a run in Las Vegas or Indianapolis, it would a great story. Don't be surprised if he finds a way to be a factor.    The seeding meeting in this division will be important, at least in making the pairings for the early wars in the tournament. But, really, anybody who wins this weight class, regardless of seed, will have to beat a number of high quality opponents along the way. There is no good draw in this division. Kelly, Bono and Zadick are the old guard who have earned the right to be favorites. Frayer and Larkin are carrying the sword for the new generation. There are over a dozen of high quality wrestlers who are coming to Vegas to win this tournament. Let the battles begin.    THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR APRIL 2004  66 KG/145.5 LBS. IN MEN'S FREESTYLE  1. Jamill Kelly, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  2. Chris Bono, Gilbert, Iowa (Su