U.S. World Team Trials freestyle preview at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

This weight class, as usual, is very deep and loaded.

Past NCAA champion Trent Paulson has the inside track after beating Olympian Doug Schwab and college star Brent Metcalf to win the U.S. Nationals freestyle title at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.

Paulson is one of the strongest wrestlers in this class in the World, and is difficult to score on. He and his twin brother Travis, who competes at 74 kg/163 lbs., both earned berths in the finals of the World Team Trials by winning U.S. Nationals titles.

The Paulsons will compete in the Trials in their hometown of Council Bluffs, Iowa, on May 30-31 at the Mid-America Center.

Metcalf bounced back well at the U.S. Nationals after being upset in the 2009 NCAA finals. Metcalf was an NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner for Iowa in 2008.

Brian Stith has put together a strong season and now owns two wins this year over Schwab, a 2008 Olympian who placed fifth in the World in 2007.

Schwab was fourth in Vegas, but is a guy who can't be overlooked. He has the potential to get on a roll like he did in 2007, when he won the Challenge Tournament en route to making the World Team.

Past U.S. National Team member Jared Frayer is another dangerous wrestler in this class. Frayer placed fifth at the U.S. Nationals, but it was his first competition in nearly 10 months. Frayer placed second in the 2006 World Team Trials.

Past Michigan standout Josh Churella placed sixth at the U.S. Nationals and will be in the mix.

Past World Team member Chris Bono also is in this division. He was seventh in Vegas. He won the Dave Schultz Memorial earlier this year. This may be Bono's last shot at a World Team. Bono is the head coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Mario Mason and Kevin LeValley placed 1-2 at University Nationals to qualify for the World Team Trials.

2009 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS - 66 KG/145.5 LBS.
1st - Trent Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Brent Metcalf, Davison, (Gator wrestling club), 0-1, 3-0, 3-0
3rd - Brian Stith, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC), 1-0, 1-0
5th - Jared Frayer, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Gator WC) dec. Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC), 1-0, 2-2
7th - Chris Bono, Chattanooga, Tenn. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Joe Johnston, Columbia, Mo. (Sunkist Kids), 5-2, 4-0

2009 U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS - 66 KG/145.5 LBS.
U.S. Nationals Champion - Trent Paulson, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Brent Metcalf, Davison, Mich. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Brian Stith, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Doug Schwab, Iowa City, Iowa (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Jared Frayer, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Josh Churella, Ann Arbor, Mich. (New York AC)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Chris Bono, Ringgold, Ga. (Sunkist Kids)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion - Don Ooton, Lewistown, Pa. (Bison WC)
University Nationals Champion - Mario Mason, Moorestown, N.J. (Minnesota Storm)
University Nationals Runner-up - Kevin LeValley, Hugo, Colo. (Bison WC)