This division is loaded with talent, even before athletes start switching weights from the non-Olympic divisions. Tina George has won the U.S. World Team Trials at her weight class for six straight years. She has won World silver medals the last two years. George has competed in all of the major international events, including a gold medal at the 2003 Pan American Games. George combines power, speed and experience in a mix that could lead to a gold medal at the Olympics.    Early in her career, George seemed to do well against her American rivals but had difficulty on the world level. Her last two seasons have changed all of that. Even this year, she has been getting revenge on some foreign opponents, including a few top Canadians, who beat her in the past. Part of this can be attributed to the decision to join the Army World Class Athlete Program. Some of it is also the natural product of maturity and confidence.    Last year, George was defeated in the U.S. Nationals finals by young star Tela O'Donnell who has quickly developed into an Olympic team challenger. George edged O'Donnell at the World Team Trials, an event that went the full three bouts. O'Donnell was a University Nationals champion last year, and won a gold medal at the Yarygin Tournament in Russia this year. She showed her potential while in college, and has improved steadily since becoming a resident athlete.     At No. 3 is talented Marcie Van Dusen, who injured a knee on a winter tour in Russia this year and has not been competing since. She is going to be ready for Las Vegas, hoping that her recovery has been sufficient. She had been wrestle well in the tournaments leading up to the setback, with silver medals at the Kiev Grand Prix and the Sunkist Kids International. Van Dusen is young, but is a scrappy competitor with the ability to win close matches.     Veteran Stephanie Murata, a 2001 World silver medalist, has competed in six World Championships and won seven U.S. Nationals titles. Murata is one of the stars who built the U.S. program, and seeks a spot on the first Olympic team. She had some of her best success down at 112.25 pounds, but has wrestled at this weight during portions of her career. Murata has the experience edge over everybody in the division, and has shown throughout a career that she is tough and talented. Anybody who thinks her best days are in the past may end up regretting that idea.    Moving up from 51 kg is 2003 World bronze medalist Jenny Wong, who has been competing at this division all winter. Wong is working on her strength and size, and has shown progress in recent tournaments. She had some tough losses early in this move up, but has seemed to get stronger and gained more confidence. Both George and O'Donnell have very close wins over Wong, so they already know that she will be a factor in this weight class right away.    Considering a move down from 59 kg is World Team Trials champion Erin Tomeo as well as six-time World Team member Lauren Lamb. Both have not been at this division recently, so it is realistic that they may get their qualification taken care of at 59 kg, then move down to 55 kg for the Indianapolis Trials.  Tomeo is already in the Indy field by winning the University Nationals.     The talk has been that Sally Roberts, a 2003 World bronze medalist at 59 kg, has also considered the long drop down, but her size may dictate that she moves up to 63 kg where she has competed often.    Veteran Danielle Hobeika should be in the mix, bringing experience to the table as well as some solid wrestling skills. Hobeika has already earned her place in Indianapolis with a win at a Regional. Tina Pihl, who started wrestling later in her life, has recently claimed her U.S. citizenship. She has done extensive training at the USOTC recently. At the Canadian Olympic Trials, she beat a number of talented wrestlers before losing to their veteran star. Pihl is hoping for a similar performance on the American scene.    High school star N'Tasha Umemoto is now eligible on the Senior level, and has confidence that she can compete with the older women. She still has not defeated any of the big name Senior stars, but her age-group pedigree makes her a strong threat. Danyelle Hedin won the title at the FILA Junior Nationals and was named Outstanding Wrestler, making her a credible threat to place in the medals in Las Vegas.    College wrestler Suekoilya Shelly has had a strong freshman year at Cumberland, claiming the No. 1 rankings in both the U.S. and North American polls. A tough battler out of Texas, Shelly has quickly become a winning freestyler. The most experienced of the collegians is Kiersten Hyatt of Missouri Valley, who has placed at the U.S. Nationals during previous seasons. Other top collegians include Desi Lockhart, Caylene Valdez and Jen Chu.     This weight division might be the most fiercely battled among the women's Olympic weights. Tina George has been winning this division for a long time, and has improved as she has done so. However, the wealth of talent, including young stars O'Donnell and Van Dusen and veteran stars Murata and Wong, make it a true battle zone.     THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR APRIL 2004  55 kg (121 lbs.)  in women's freestyle  1. Tina George, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  2. Tela O'Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC)  3. Marcie Van Dusen, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  4. Stephanie Murata, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  5. Jenny Wong, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  6. Danielle Hobeika, Forest Grove, Ore (Dave Schultz WC)  7. Tina Pihl, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  8. Danyelle Hedin, Honolulu, Hawaii (Wahine WC)  9. N'Tasha Umemoto, Portland, Ore. (Cobra WC)  10. Suekoiyla Shelly, Hurst, Texas (Cumberland College)    ATHLETES ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS AT 55 KG  University Nationals Champion  - Malinda Ripley, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  West Regional Trials Champion - Danielle Hobeika, Forest Grove, Ore. (Dave Schultz WC)    ATHLETES ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS  AT 51 KG (NON-OLYMPIC WEIGHT)  University Nationals Champion  - Erin Tomeo, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)