Toccara Montgomery is a two-time World silver medalist and one of the best wrestlers in the world. Last year, she was defeated by in the World Championships finals by five-time World champion Kyoko Hamaguchi of Japan. About a month later, she won the 2003 World Cup, defeating Hamaguchi in the finals and leading Team USA to an upset victory. She has remained very active on the mats, competing in her college season for Cumberland College as well as the major Senior level competitions.    Montgomery used to compete down one weight class, but she made the move up to the Olympic weight right away when the divisions were selected for the Olympics. Since moving up to this division, she has added strength to go with her tremendous athletic skills. Montgomery has a tendancy to wrestle in a wide-open style, and often gives up points while at the same time scoring them. People forget that she is still young and improving, and that her wrestling skills should continue to develop with experience.    Ranked at No. 2 is high school star Samantha Lang, who won a few bouts against Montgomery over a season ago but has not been close in their recent bouts. Lang was a star on the age-group level, and has beaten many top foreign athletes on the Senior level. However, this year, Lang has not been as active on the Senior wrestling scene as in other winters. She is also pursuing a spot on the Olympic team in judo, and competed in her boys high school wrestling season. It will be interesting to see how sharp she is at the U.S. Nationals. Lang has a tremendous leg attack offense, and also is able to score points on the mat.     Ranked No. 3 on Team USA is Iris Smith, who recently scored a win over Lang in the Yarygin Tournament in Russia, which Smith won the gold medal. Smith has won three U.S. Nationals titles and competed in the World Championships. Like Tina George, she is in the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program and has been able to concentrate more on her wrestling career. Many are interested if Smith's recent success will be repeated at the U.S. Nationals when it counts. Few of the heavyweights have her experience.    When competing at this weight, Stephany Lee has been impressive, with a silver medal at the Dave Schultz Memorial and a win over Smith at the Sunkist International. At the Dave Schultz event, she tossed and put away talented Canadian Ahenawa Okuffo. Lee and Montgomery have battled many times this year on the Senior circuit, as well as in the women's college competitions. Lee has yet to solve Montgomery, but was closer in their most recent bout. She has a judo background and is a great thrower, and shows some natural ability that gives her an edge in many situations. Still young, Lee has many people excited about her wrestling future.    A top contender should be Katie Downing, moving up from 67 kg where she has competed on the world-class level. Downing took some lumps in her first few attempts at this weight class, but she has had a full year to get herself prepared for the bigger athletes. She dropped a match to Lee in the Dave Schultz Memorial.     Veteran Nina Vernon will be an immediate threat if she is able to return from injuries. She is a former U.S. Nationals silver medalist who has been a member of Women's Team USA. Her health seems to be under control, and she won a Regional competition to guarantee her a spot in the Olympic Trials. Her time away from wrestling may have also revived her passion for the sport. We will see in Las Vegas just how well she has rebounded from her setbacks.    The rest of the field will be looking to crack into the higher echelon of stars. Young Juanita Russell has shown promise on the age-group level. She was second to Lee at the FILA Junior Nationals this year, but had a chance to represent the USA in the most recent FILA Junior World Championships last summer.    Sisters Elena and Alicia Mena have competed at this division in the past with success. Older sister Elena was third at the University Nationals, losing only to Montgomery and Lee. A pair of college wrestlers have been having strong seasons, Megan Goldsmith and Misty Stalley. Both have the ability to become All-Americans and move on to the Olympic Trials. Veteran Donell Bradley is always competitive, in her first year after completing her college career.  Brianne Bazzini placed on the national level a year ago, and is expected to be right in the mix. Randi Miller might wrestle here, but is usually at 67 kg.    THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR APRIL 2004  72 kg (158.5 lbs.)  in women's wrestling  1. Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio (Cumberland College)  2. Samantha Lang, Tualatin, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)  3. Stephany Lee, Honolulu, Hawaii (Missouri Valley)  4. Iris Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  5. Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  6. Juanita Russell, Galway, N.Y. (TNT)  7. Misty Stalley, San Mateo, Calif. (Menlo College)  8. Megan Goldsmith, Black River Falls, Wis. (UM-Morris)  9. Elena Mena, St. Paul, Minn. (unattached)  10. Brianne Bazzini, San Carlos, Calif. (Penn Grapplers)    ATHLETES ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS  University Nationals Champion  72 kg - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio (Cumberland College)  University Nationals Champion  77 kg - Megan Goldsmith, Black River Falls, Wis. (UM-Morris)  West Regional Trials Champion - Nina Vernon, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)