U.S. Olympic Team Trials preview in men's freestyle at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

This typically is one of the deepest - and most wide-open weight classes - in this country. And this year is no exception.

Doug Schwab made his first World Team last year and finished fifth at the 2007 World Championships. Schwab looked very strong and very confident in winning the U.S. Nationals. Schwab downed 2006 World champion Bill Zadick in the finals of U.S. Nationals. Both periods came down to the clinch. Schwab won two coin flips before capitalizing in the leg clinch.

Schwab's win sends him into the best-of-3 finals at the Olympic Trials, giving him a clear edge over the rest of the field. Zadick, who missed nearly all of 2007 with injuries, looks strong again and is a legitimate threat to make his first Olympic Team. Zadick is still very good on his feet, and is difficult to take down.

Jared Frayer, who lost a tough, three-period match against Schwab in the semifinals of U.S. Nationals, is very dangerous and very talented. Frayer came back from the loss to Schwab and placed third at U.S. Nationals. Veteran Chris Bono, a past World Team member, also will be in the mix here. The head coach at Tennessee-Chattanooga is a smart wrestler who is difficult to score on.

2008 NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner Brent Metcalf of Iowa can't be overlooked in this weight class. Metcalf, despite limited time on the mat wrestling freestyle, finished fifth at U.S. Nationals. Zack Esposito is another guy who has been a contender in this weight class and has the ability to be in the hunt as well.

Trent Paulson has been one of the biggest surprises in this weight class. Paulson dropped down a weight class before winning the Dave Schultz Memorial International and the Kiev International this year. Paulson placed seventh at U.S. Nationals. Past National Team member Eric Larkin is another wrestler capable of winning some big matches in this division. Past World medalist and Olympian Cary Kolat is back wrestling again. Kolat won the Sunkist Kids International Open last fall.

2008 U.S. Nationals results

1st - Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC) dec. Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 1-0, 3-0

3rd - Jared Frayer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC) dec. Chris Bono, Ringold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids), 1-0, 5-1

5th - Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC) inj. dft. Zack Esposito, Stillwater, OK (Gator Wrestling Club),

7th - Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids) dec. Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 1-1, 2-1

2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials Pre-Seeds

Qualified for Best-of-3 finals: Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)

Challenge Tournament Seeds
1. Bill Zadick, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
2. Jared Frayer, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
3. Chris Bono, Ringgold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids)
4. Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC)
5. Zack Esposito, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)
6. Trent Paulson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)
7. Eric Larkin, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
8. Cary Kolat, Baltimore, Md. (Sunkist Kids)
9. Jesse Jantzen, Cambridge, Mass. (New York AC)
10. Joe Johnston, Iowa City, Iowa (Hawkeye WC)
11. Phillip Simpson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
12. Jerrod Sanders, Raleigh, N.C. (Unattached)
13. Nathaniel Holt, Provo, Utah (Chippewa WC)