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Gutches to wrestle in U.S. Trials The Associated Press SEATTLE -- Former world champions Les Gutches and Terry Brands head a group of more than 60 wrestlers set to compete today and Saturday in the U.S. Freestyle World Team Trials. At stake are berths at this year's Pan American Games and World Freestyle Championships. The top six placers in the eight weight classifications from the U.S. national tournament, held April 30-May 1 in Las Vegas, qualified for this tournament at the Mercer Arena. Other wrestlers were able to qualify based on meeting specific requirements. Gutches, 26, was the 1997 world champion at 187.25 pounds. The Medford native was a champion at last year's Goodwill Games and finished seventh at the 1996 Olympics. Gutches has won four consecutive U.S. national titles. Brands, 31, from Iowa City, Iowa, won world titles in 1993 and 1995. He also won a gold medal at the 1995 Pan Am Games in the 127.75-pound classification. The top seeds have Friday off while the six to 11 wrestlers in each classification compete in what's called a mini-tournament. Those wrestlers will take part in a round-robin competition with the winner advancing to face the top seed on Saturday. Mini-tournament wrestlers could wrestle as many as three or four times on Friday. Saturday's final is a best-of-three event. The top three in each weight class qualify for the 1999-2000 Freestyle Team USA and are eligible for training and subsistence money. While the top seeds have a clear advantage, one wrestler who may make a run at the top spot from the mini-tournament in Norman, Okla. native Sammie Hensen at 119 pounds. Hensen was a winner at last year's world championships but missed last month's national event due to injury. If Hensen makes it through Friday's round he will take on 1999 national champ Lou Rosselli. Other top seeds at the event are: Cary Kolat (138.75 pounds); Lincoln McIlravy (152); Joe Williams (167.5); Dominic Black (213.75); and Stephen Neal (286). Winners will represent the United States at the Pan Am Games, July 24-28 in Winnipeg, Canada, and the World Freestyle Wrestling Championships, Oct. 8-11 in Ankara, Turkey. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.