Chun wrestled in the 2000 World Championships and placed fifth at the 2008 Olympic Games.

But even without that top-level experience, the American squad still has high expectations for the World Championships for women’s freestyle. The event is scheduled for Oct. 11-13 at Yoyogi National Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.

The World Championships are being held in the seven women’s freestyle weight classes, because only four women’s weights were contested at the Olympic Games.

Chun, who wrestles at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., is joined on the U.S. squad by a promising young group of athletes who have fared well at the international level.

Two-time World University champion Stephany Lee will compete at 72 kg/158.5 lbs. 2008 World University champion Elena Pirozhkov will wrestle at 67 kg/147.5 lbs. Two-time Junior World medalist Tatiana Padilla will take the mat at 55 kg/121 lbs.

Also in the lineup are 2008 World University medalist Alaina Berube at 63 kg/138.75 lbs., 2008 Junior World medalist Helen Maroulis strapped up her wrestling shoes at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Deanna Rix at 59 kg/130 lbs.

“We have a lot of girls with international experience – most of them just haven’t been to the World stage before,” U.S. Coach Terry Steiner said. “We have World University champions and Junior World medalists, and we have an Olympian who was very close to winning a medal in Beijing. We can compete with anyone. We are going in there with the right attitude, the right mindset and the right focus.”

The 17-year-old Maroulis, a high school senior, is the youngest U.S. World Team member since Kristie Marano won a World silver medal as a 17-year-old in 1996.

Rix, the 2005 ASICS Girls High School Wrestler of the Year, beat 2007 World Team member Leigh Jaynes to make her first World Team.

Japan is expected to field a strong team, although it likely will be without the Icho sisters. Kaori Icho is a two-time Olympic champion and five-time World champion at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. Chiharu Icho is a two-time World champion at 48 kg/105.5 lbs. She placed second at the 2008 Olympics. The Ichos are expected to skip the event because of injuries.

“Japan will have most of their horses there,” Steiner said. “I think some of the other countries will have some of their younger athletes competing as they start looking ahead to 2012. I think we have the type of team that can accomplish a lot in this tournament.”

U.S. WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS ROSTER

48 kg/105.5 lbs. – Clarissa Chun, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)
51 kg/112.25 lbs. – Helen Maroulis, Rockville, Md. (New York AC)
55 kg/121 lbs. – Tatiana Padilla, Azusa, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)
59 kg/130 lbs. – Deanna Rix, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC)
63 kg/138.75 lbs. – Alaina Berube, River Falls, Wis. (New York AC)
67 kg/147.5 lbs. – Elena Pirozkhov, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)
72 kg/158.5 lbs. – Stephany Lee, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)

Coaches - Terry Steiner (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Vladislav Izboinikov (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Levi Weikel-Magden (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Keith Wilson (Colorado Springs, Colo.); Ron Tirpak (Swarthmore, Pa.)

WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE, OCT. 11-13, TOKYO, JAPAN

Saturday, Oct. 11
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Qualification rounds (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
5:30-7 p.m. – Repechage (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)
7-9 p.m. – Finals (51 kg, 59 kg, 67 kg)

Sunday, Oct. 12
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Qualification rounds (48 kg, 63 kg)
5:30-7 p.m. – Repechage (48 kg, 63 kg)
7-9 p.m. – Finals (48 kg, 63 kg)

Monday, Oct. 13
10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – Qualification rounds (55 kg, 72 kg)
5:30-7 p.m. – Repechage (55 kg, 72 kg)
7-9 p.m. – Finals (55 kg, 72 kg)

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – There is not a day that goes by when freestyle wrestler Andy Hrovat isn’t reminded about what happened at the 2008 Olympic Games.

Hrovat suffered a heartbreaking, last-second loss to Cuba’s Reineris Salas in his first and only bout of the Olympics last month in Beijing, China.

“Every day you run into somebody and they find out you’re an Olympian. They ask ‘How did you do?’ and I have to tell them I lost with three seconds left,” Hrovat said. “It’s something that is with me and something that will push me to hopefully win that title next year. It’s something that I will definitely use for motivation.”

The 28-year-old Hrovat is back on the mat training and looking for something big at 84 kg/185 lbs. during the 2008-09 season.

Hrovat, who lives and trains in Ann Arbor, Mich., was working out this week at the U.S. Olympic Training Center during a brief visit to Colorado Springs.

“I came out here for my Olympic evaluation, and it went as I expected,” Hrovat said. “Kevin (Jackson, U.S. National Coach) said I did everything I was told. He said if someone wasn’t living out here he would want them on my schedule with the way I train and go places to compete and wrestle the toughest competition. I go to the Overtime club to train with (Coach) Sean Bormet and I come out here for training camps. I’m going to continue to follow the same schedule for the upcoming season.”

Hrovat had the lead late in his opening match at the Olympics before the Cuban scored in the closing seconds of the third period to pull out a 3-0, 1-3, 2-2 victory.

“The Olympics is a big stage, but I felt real comfortable out there and I felt stronger than the guy I was wrestling,” Hrovat said. “I wasn’t pushing the pace hard enough where the guy would’ve folded. He was somebody I should be able to tech-fall two periods in a row. There’s no excuse for me losing. The way I see it, I was three seconds away from being in the finals. That’s realistic, because I could beat everybody else that was on my side (of the bracket). That’s the hardest part, knowing I had a mental lapse. That’s the difference between having a chance to win a gold medal and not getting a chance to wrestle back.”

A 2006 U.S. World Team member, Hrovat hopes to finish the upcoming season at the 2009 World Championships. That event is scheduled for Sept. 21-27, 2009 in Herning, Denmark.

“I need to change some things around mentally so I can get past those big matches internationally and start winning like I can,” Hrovat said. “I’m looking forward to getting back into it and competing again.”

Hrovat never left his wrestling shoes on the mat and would like to keep wrestling through the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

“I’m just taking it year-by-year right now,” he said. “By the time 2012 rolls around I will be 32. You never know how healthy your body will be. The goal is four years, but I don’t want to be holding on if I get injured or something. I’ve been fortunate with the way I wrestle where I don’t put myself in those positions to hurt my knees or anything.”

The U.S. freestyle team won just one medal, the gold won by Henry Cejudo, at the 2008 Olympics.

“Everybody needs to buy into our system and push each other,” Hrovat said. “Some people in the U.S. refuse to wrestle overseas and they’re not going to get any better if they don’t. The best guys in each weight class need to train with each other and make each other better. Some guys won’t do that because they don’t want to show the other guy what they have. I was training today with Bryce Hasseman, and we’re two of the top guys in our weight class. We pushed each other and made each other better. We also had guys who didn’t come to training camps. You can’t do that if you expect to win.”

Hrovat said the 21-year-old Cejudo had a razor-sharp focus while he geared up his preparations for the Olympics.

“Henry was a huge bright spot for us,” Hrovat said. “He’s a professional and that’s why he won. He trained every day as a professional and lived his life as a professional. He did everything the coaches asked him to do and he bought into the plan we had. He’s a 21-year-old kid, but he was the leader of this team. He pushed the pace and set an example by how hard he worked.”

Hrovat said he expects to be back competing in November.

“I’m real excited about this season,” he said. “The thing that excites me – even though I may have had a failure in the Olympics – is I have improved every year and I’m developing more. I’m gaining more and more confidence, and I keep getting better. I’m ready to get back out there and see what I can do.”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Wrestling National Freestyle Wrestling Coach Kevin Jackson resigned his position on Friday to become head coach with the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club.

Jackson, 43, has served as National Freestyle Coach for USA Wrestling since January 2001. He led the U.S. to a second-place team finish at the 2003 World Championships and a third-place finish at the 2006 World Championships.

“I’m looking forward to pursuing the Sunkist situation,” Jackson said, “and I’m planning to continue helping the U.S. in our quest to win at the World level.”

During Jackson’s tenure as U.S. National Coach, the U.S. had Olympic freestyle gold medalists in Cael Sanderson in 2004 and Henry Cejudo in 2008, and a World champion in Bill Zadick in 2006.

Jackson was Freestyle Resident Coach for USA Wrestling from 1998-2001. An athlete he coached was 2000 Olympic champion Brandon Slay.

“We’ve had an Olympic champion in the last three Olympics, in addition to a World champion, and I’m proud of their efforts,” Jackson said. “We never met my goal of being the best team in the World, but we accomplished some good things here.”

Art Martori, founder of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, offered Jackson the position with his Phoenix-based club.

“Kevin Jackson will run our elite program, and he will be responsible for preparing our elite athletes to become World and Olympic champions,” Martori said. “Our program is going to be very aggressive in our approach and we’re excited about the future. We’re very excited about having Kevin involved with our program. He’s going to make this program as good as it can be.”

Jackson is considered one of the greatest wrestlers in U.S. history, winning a gold medal at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He also won a pair of World Championships, in 1991 and 1995. He is one of only five U.S. wrestlers to claim three career World-level titles.

Jackson is a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and the FILA International Wrestling Hall of Fame.

The Hawkeyes were ranked first in W.I.N.'s pre-season dual rankings, as well as in the magazine's pre-season tournament power index. The second ranking is based on how a school's individual ranked wrestlers would finish at the NCAA Championships and the point total listed is what those competitors would accumulate at the national meet.

The rankings, which were released Tuesday, also list six Hawkeyes in the top 10 in their respective weight classes. Hawkeye juniors Joe Slaton (133) and Brent Metcalf (141) are both earned a number one ranking. Iowa senior Charlie Falck (125) and junior Jay Borschel (174) are each ranked second, while junior Phillip Keddy (184) is ranked fifth and senior Alex Tsirtsis is ranked eighth (141).

The Hawkeyes are scheduled to open the 2008-09 season Nov. 21 when they host the Iowa City duals.

W.I.N. Division I Top 20 Pre-Season Dual Rankings sponsored by Adidas Wrestling shoes.

Rank School

1. Iowa
2. Ohio State
3. Iowa State
4. Cornell
5. Missouri
6. Oklahoma State
7. Illinois
8. Nebraska
9. Penn State
10. Michigan
11. Minnesota
12. Northwestern
13. Boise State
14. Central Michigan
15. Wisconsin
16. Indiana
17. Maryland
18. Edinboro
19. West Virginia
20. Oklahoma

Top 20 Pre-Season Tournament Power Index

Rank, School, Points
1. Iowa, 91
2. Iowa State, 90
3. Cornell, 77
4. Missouri, 61
5. Ohio State, 54
6. Nebraska, 53
7. Illinois, 50
8. Michigan, 44
9. Penn State, 35
10. Boise State, 34.5
11. Oklahoma State, 34
12. Wisconsin, 32
13. Northwestern, 31.5
14. Indiana, 28
15. Minnesota, 24.5
16. Edinboro, 23
17. Maryland, 22.5
18. Central Michigan, 19
Northern Iowa, 19
20. Hofstra 17.5

“I am very excited about the addition of Jesus,” said Loukides. “He brings an incredible work ethic as well as national and international credibility. He was an outstanding competitor for Cuba and the USA and that has made him a great coach. Jesus will instantly make a positive impact on our program.”

Prior to coming to UNCG, Wilson was the head coach at Dakota County Technical College in Rosemount, MN in 2006-07. He was an assistant coach with VMI in 2005-06 and served as head coach at Marine Military Academy in 2004-05.

Wilson was a two-time All-American and NCAA Division III Wrestling National Champion while attending Upper Iowa University. In 2000, he reached his first All-American when he won the national title at the 133 lbs. Also that season, Wilson was selected to the Amateur Wrestling Shoes News All-Rookie Team. He was also named Outstanding Wrestler by both the Iowa Conference and Upper Iowa. After serving as an assistant coach for the Peacocks during the 2000-01 season, Wilson returned to the mats in 2002. He won the national crown at 141 lbs, earning his second All-American honor.

Also in 2002, Wilson claimed the silver medal at the World Team Trial and took fourth place at USA Senior Nationals. A year later, he won the Pan American Championship and was a silver medalist at both the USA Senior Nationals and World Cup.

Wilson earned his bachelor’s degree in recreation from Upper Iowa in 2004.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Women’s freestyle wrestler Clarissa Chun figured this might be it.

The 2008 season likely would be her last on the wrestling mat.

But after landing a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team and narrowly missing winning a medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, the 27-year-old Chun is giving serious consideration to wrestling another four-year cycle.

Chun, fifth at the 2008 Olympics at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., is expected to return to the mat next week for the U.S. World Team Trials for women’s freestyle wrestling. The event is set for Sept. 20 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

The winners in each of the seven weight classes from the World Team Trials will qualify for the World Championships for women, set for Oct. 11-13 in Tokyo, Japan. The women are holding a World Championships this year since only four of the seven international weights for women were contested in the Olympics.

“It’s a little tough mentally because nothing’s guaranteed – I have to try out again just to make the U.S. team,” Chun said. “But I want to compete in the Worlds – just to get that shot again. I’m lucky to have another opportunity so close to the Olympics.”

Wrestling the best of her career, Chun surprised many wrestling observers by knocking off Olympic and World medalist Patricia Miranda to make the U.S. Olympic Team in June.

Chun continued to wrestle well at the Olympics, storming into the semifinals opposite two-time World champion and Olympic silver medalist Chiharu Icho of Japan. Chun held the lead with just under a minute left in the match before Icho prevailed 1-0, 0-3, 1-1. Icho won by virtue of scoring last.

“That match really drives me,” Chun said. “It’s tough to even think about, but it’s something that definitely motivates me.”

Chun then lost to Olympic and World champion Irini Merlini of Ukraine in the bronze-medal match wearing the blue wrestling singlet.

Chun recently watched the match with Icho on NBC’s Olympic Website.

“I can’t do anything about it now, and I’m not making any excuses,” she said. “I did learn a lot from that match and that will help me. Hopefully, I will have better mat strategy and I will minimize the mistakes in the future.”

Since competing in the Olympics, Chun spent time visiting the school in Japan where she hopes to teach English to elementary students later this fall. She also spent a handful of days in her native Hawaii before recently returning to Colorado Springs, where she lives and trains.

She was back on the mat this week at the Olympic Training Center, preparing for the World Team Trials. Among the wrestlers Chun likely will have to battle for a spot on the U.S. World Team is Sara Fulp-Allen, who placed third at the 2008 Olympic Trials.

Chun is looking to compete in her second World Championships. She did not place at the 2000 World Championships.

“Even though I came up short of winning a medal, wrestling at the Olympics helped build my confidence,” she said. “I know I’m not that far away.”

The 2012 Olympic Games in London may seem far away, but it is something Chun is ready to lace up her wrestling shoes for.

“Being part of the Olympics, it was an amazing experience,” she said. “I really thought I was going to be done after this year. But because my Olympic experience was such a positive one, I want to do this again. Nothing is guaranteed, but I want to have another shot at being an Olympian. Sometimes I think, ‘Oh my gosh, four years is a long time’ but it’s worth it to be able to experience being in the Olympics.”