U.S. World Team Trials Greco-Roman preview at 84 kg/185 lbs.

Moving up to this weight after many years of domination at 163 pounds is 2008 Olympian T.C. Dantzler, who successfully won the U.S. Nationals at his new weight class. Dantzler has competed in five World Championships and the Olympics, with his best finish being fifth place in 2006. That placement allows Dantzler to skip directly to the best-of-three finals series, an advantage which should help him in Council Bluffs.

2008 Olympic Team Trials runner-up Aaron Sieracki placed second behind Dantzler at the U.S. Nationals, his best finish ever at the nationals. Sieracki also placed second at the 2006 World Team Trials. Sieracki's older brother Keith had a long rivalry with Dantzler, and Aaron would like nothing better than to beat Dantzler now that they are at the same weight.

Young Chas Betts, who was second in the 2006 University World Championships, placed a solid third at the U.S. Nationals. Betts has shown consistent progress since joining the USOEC program at Northern Michigan, placing in the top four at the U.S. Nationals the last three years.

Jake Clark, who competed at the 2006 World Championships and won the U.S. Nationals that season, may enter the World Team Trials. Clark has talent, and is an immediate challenger if he wrestles. The question will be how rusty Clark has become in his time away from the mat after last year's Olympic Trials.

The rest of the qualifiers at the U.S. Nationals are just starting making their mark on the Greco-Roman scene. It would be a long shot for any of these athletes to earn the World Team spot.

Walter Hoffman was fourth, and Gabe Dretsch, the former Univ. of Minnesota star, placed fifth in Las Vegas. Neither had been a national placewinner ever before. Also qualifying through the U.S. Nationals were Jacob Ison and Peter Hicks. Ison just completed his junior season at the Univ. of Ohio. Hicks now wrestles for the U.S. Army, after starting his career with the U.S. Air Force.

University Nationals qualifiers were Chad Hemerson and Talan Knox, among the top young stars coming up from the age-group levels. Hemerson placed ninth in the 2007 Junior World Championships. Knox was fourth in the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials down at 74 kg, and has moved up to this division. Jim Gibson, who is a graduate assistant coach at Clarion Univ., qualified through the Northeast Regionals.

2009 U.S. Nationals results at 84 kg/185 lbs.
1st - T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC) dec. Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army), 1-0, 3-0
3rd - Chas Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Walter Hoffman, Bossier City, La. (U.S. Air Force), 2-0, 2-0
5th - Gabe Dretsch, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) pin Jacob Ison, Athens, Ohio, (Bobcat Wrestling Club), 1:17
7th - Peter Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Courtney Myers, Coloma, Mich. (U.S. Marine Corps), 1-0, 3-0

World Team Trials qualifiers at 84 kg/185 lbs.
U.S. Nationals Champion - T.C. Dantzler, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Aaron Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Chas Betts, St. Michael, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Walter Hoffman, Bossier City, La. (U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Gabe Dretsch, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Jacob Ison, Athens, Ohio, (Bobcat WC)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Peter Hicks, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion - Jim Gibson, Clarion, Pa. (Clarion WC)
Northern Plains Trials Champion - To be determined May 15
Past U.S. World Team member - Jake Clark, Top Sail Island, N.C. (Minnesota Storm)
University Nationals Champion - Chad Hemerson, Monterey, Calif. (USOEC)
University Nationals Runner-up - Talan Knox, Salt Lake City, Utah (USOEC)