U.S. World Team Trials Greco-Roman preview at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

Brad Ahearn, who won the 2008 U.S. Nationals at 84 kg, has moved up and won the gold medal at his new weight class, making him a repeat champion. Ahearn has competed well this year at the new division, taking a gold at the Dave Schultz Memorial and a silver at the Pan American Championships. He injured his hand prior to the 2008 Olympic Trials which hampered his chances there. Ahearn has seemed to grow into the higher weight class and is wrestling with confidence.

Placing second to Ahearn at U.S. Nationals and the Schultz Memorial was R.C. Johnson, who was also second at the 2008 U.S. Nationals and third at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. Johnson has truly paid his dues, going from the USOEC program to training at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. He is showing progress against international opponents.

Taking third place was Justin Millard, who was a 2007 U.S. Nationals runner-up and has considerable experience. Young Zac Nielsen, who moved up from 85 kg where he made the 2008 Junior World Team, placed a strong fourth at U.S. Nationals. Nielsen was also second at the University Nationals.

2008 Olympic bronze medalist Adam Wheeler has retired and become a police officer. The man he beat in the Olympic Trials finals, 2005 World bronze medalist Justin Ruiz, has also not returned to the mats. There was talk that Ruiz might return this year, but he has yet to enter any event.

One of the young talents, Peter Gounaridis, placed sixth. Veterans Deon Hicks and John Wechter also qualified through the U.S. Nationals. Robbie Smith, who has competed on four age-group World Teams, won the University Nationals this year to qualify for the field. Ethan Bosch, a past U.S. Nationals champion and 2000 Olympic Trials runner-up, returned after a four-year retirement to win the Northeast Regionals. If Bosch, an assistant coach at Clarion, chooses to compete, he could surprise people who have not faced him before.

Moises Hernandez has not yet qualified to compete, after placing second at the Northeast Regionals and losing the true-second place bout at the University Nationals. He has one more chance if he attends the Northern Plains Regional in mid-May.

2009 U.S. Nationals results at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.
1st - Brad Ahearn, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. R C Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids), 2-0, 1-0
3rd - Justin Millard, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Zac Nielsen, Zimmerman, Minn. (Minnesota Storm), 2-0,1-0
5th - Deon Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Pete Gounaridis, Leominster, Mass. (Sunkist Kids), 1-0,1-0
7th - John Wechter, East Lansing, Mich. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Moises Hernandez, Vineland, N.J. (U.S. Marine Corps), 2-1, 8-0

World Team Trials qualifiers at 96 kg/211.5 pounds
U.S. Nationals Champion - Brad Ahearn, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Nationals, second place - R C Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Justin Millard, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Zac Nielsen, Zimmerman, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Deon Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Pete Gounaridis, Leominster, Mass. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - John Wechter, East Lansing, Mich. (Sunkist Kids)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion - Ethan Bosch, Clarion, Pa. (Clarion WC)
Past U.S. World Team member - Justin Ruiz, Salt Lake City, Utah (New York AC)
University Nationals Champion - Robbie Smith, Colorado Springs, Colo. (USOEC)
Northern Plains Trials Champion - To be determined May 14