2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo is not expected to compete this season.
With the 22-year-old Cejudo taking a year off, that has opened the door for a number of wrestlers in the lightest weight class in freestyle.
Past Michigan State All-American Nick Simmons, who is dangerous with his funky and unorthodox style, stepped up to win the U.S. Nationals at 55 kg/121 lbs. He downed former Oklahoma State wrestler Obe Blanc in the freestyle finals in Las Vegas.
By virtue of winning in Vegas, Simmons has clinched a spot in the best-of-3 finals for the U.S. World Team Trials on May 30-31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
High school standout Logan Stieber of Ohio is another wrestler to keep an eye on. Stieber placed third at U.S. Nationals and continues to show improvement.
Next in line behind Stieber in Vegas were Michael Martinez, Ben Kjar, Ben Ashmore and Brad Pataky.
Veteran Danny Felix, who placed second in the 2009 Dave Schultz Memorial International, is another wrestler who could be a factor in this class. He was added to the field as a wild card.
Zach Sanders and Tony Mustari placed 1-2 at University Nationals to qualify for the Trials.
Cruse Aarhus also qualified after winning the Northern Plains Regional.
2009 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS - 55 KG/121 LBS.
1st - Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Obe Blanc, Naples, Fla. (Gator WC), 7-4, 7-1
3rd - Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (BTW) dec. Michael Martinez, Pagosa Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 2-1, 1-0
5th - Ben Kjar, Orem, Utah (Wolverine WC) dec. Ben Ashmore, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 2-1, 5-2
7th - Bradley Pataky, University Park, Pa. (Penn State) dec. Jeff Sato, Pismo Beach, Calif (Athletes in Action), 7-0, 2-0
2009 U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS - 60 KG/132 LBS.
U.S. Nationals Champion - Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Obe Blanc, Naples, Fla. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (BTW)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Michael Martinez, Pagosa Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Ben Kjar, Centerville, Utah (Wolverine WC)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Ben Ashmore, Dallas, Texas (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Brad Pataky, Clearfield, Pa. (Penn State)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion - Brian Borst, Schenectady, N.Y. (Journeymen)
Northern Plains Trials Champion - Cruse Aarhus, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Panther WC)
University Nationals Champion - Zach Sanders, Wabasha, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
University Nationals Runner-up - Tony Mustari, Greeley, Colo. (Bears WC)
Freestyle Wild card - Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
With the 22-year-old Cejudo taking a year off, that has opened the door for a number of wrestlers in the lightest weight class in freestyle.
Past Michigan State All-American Nick Simmons, who is dangerous with his funky and unorthodox style, stepped up to win the U.S. Nationals at 55 kg/121 lbs. He downed former Oklahoma State wrestler Obe Blanc in the freestyle finals in Las Vegas.
By virtue of winning in Vegas, Simmons has clinched a spot in the best-of-3 finals for the U.S. World Team Trials on May 30-31 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
High school standout Logan Stieber of Ohio is another wrestler to keep an eye on. Stieber placed third at U.S. Nationals and continues to show improvement.
Next in line behind Stieber in Vegas were Michael Martinez, Ben Kjar, Ben Ashmore and Brad Pataky.
Veteran Danny Felix, who placed second in the 2009 Dave Schultz Memorial International, is another wrestler who could be a factor in this class. He was added to the field as a wild card.
Zach Sanders and Tony Mustari placed 1-2 at University Nationals to qualify for the Trials.
Cruse Aarhus also qualified after winning the Northern Plains Regional.
2009 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS - 55 KG/121 LBS.
1st - Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids) dec. Obe Blanc, Naples, Fla. (Gator WC), 7-4, 7-1
3rd - Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (BTW) dec. Michael Martinez, Pagosa Springs, Colo. (Gator WC), 2-1, 1-0
5th - Ben Kjar, Orem, Utah (Wolverine WC) dec. Ben Ashmore, Tempe, Ariz. (Sunkist Kids), 0-1, 2-1, 5-2
7th - Bradley Pataky, University Park, Pa. (Penn State) dec. Jeff Sato, Pismo Beach, Calif (Athletes in Action), 7-0, 2-0
2009 U.S. WORLD TEAM TRIALS QUALIFIERS - 60 KG/132 LBS.
U.S. Nationals Champion - Nick Simmons, Corvallis, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, second place - Obe Blanc, Naples, Fla. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, third place - Logan Stieber, Monroeville, Ohio (BTW)
U.S. Nationals, fourth place - Michael Martinez, Pagosa Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
U.S. Nationals, fifth place - Ben Kjar, Centerville, Utah (Wolverine WC)
U.S. Nationals, sixth place - Ben Ashmore, Dallas, Texas (Sunkist Kids)
U.S. Nationals, seventh place - Brad Pataky, Clearfield, Pa. (Penn State)
Northeast Regional Trials Champion - Brian Borst, Schenectady, N.Y. (Journeymen)
Northern Plains Trials Champion - Cruse Aarhus, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Panther WC)
University Nationals Champion - Zach Sanders, Wabasha, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
University Nationals Runner-up - Tony Mustari, Greeley, Colo. (Bears WC)
Freestyle Wild card - Danny Felix, Morgantown, W.Va. (Sunkist Kids)
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