Working up a healthy dislike for her opponent today in a wrestle-off for a spot on the United States World Team isn't in Mary Kelly's plans.

Kelly, a 2002 graduate of Mahomet-Seymour High School, and Clarissa Chun are close friends. And they are going to stay that way.

Kelly and Chun will square off in a best-of-three wrestle-off at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The winner will represent the United States at 48 kilograms (105.5 pounds) at the World Championships Sept. 26 to Oct. 1 in Guangzhou, China.

"We've been friends for a long time, since freshman year of high school," Kelly said. "She's really nice. We've been able to stay friends through everything."

Kelly and Chun, a native of Hawaii, met through wrestling and were on the Junior World Team together.

Chun is the current national champion at 105.5 pounds, but was unable to compete in the Trials because of an injury. Kelly was the Trials champion, a feat that would ordinarily earn her a spot on the World Team. But because of Chun's national title and injury status, she was granted a wrestle-off with Kelly.

Kelly and Chun both live at the Olympic Training Center and have worked out together frequently. They are doing less of that, however, with the wrestle-off approaching.

"I try not to think about that kind of stuff and waste too much energy getting nervous," Kelly said. "Since it's getting closer to the match, I'm starting to taper. I'm focusing more on recovery and little technical things I need to do with my wrestling and getting my weight down for weigh-in."

Chun agreed that there are no ill feelings between the two.

"It's a very healthy situation between us," Chun told Craig Sesker of USA Wrestling. "Some people think it's weird that we talk and we're still friends. But we've been friends a long time and that's not going to change.

"Mary's a great girl. She's very cool and just a really neat person. On the mat, you don't even think about being friends. You just go out and compete hard and try to win the match."

According to Kelly, female wrestlers find it easier to be cordial with their rivals than males.

"I tend to be friends with a lot of girls in my weight class," she said. "I get along pretty well with everybody."

Kelly said she had the edge in early matches with Chun, but the 25-year-old Chun has fared better recently. The exception, however, is the most recent battle. Kelly defeated Chun, 4-0, in each of two periods in a February tournament.

"She's really fast," Kelly said. "She's got really good technique, nice shots and sweeps. She does judo so she's got some decent throws."

Whoever wins on today, Kelly and Chun will both be going to China.

"My coach called and asked who I wanted to take as a training partner if I won and I said Clarissa," said Kelly. "He said 'that's good, because she wants to take you, too.' "

Kelly was born into a wrestling family. Her father, Jerry, was a national runner-up at Oklahoma State and her uncle, Bill, was an NCAA champion at Iowa State.

Jerry Kelly is currently the wrestling coach at MacMurray College in Jacksonville.

"The first week I was born they took me to a meet at Iowa State," said Mary, who has attended Neosho Community College, Northern Michigan and MacMurray.

A native Iowan, Kelly has set her sights on the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

"I really want to focus on 2008," she said. "I'm giving it all I got right now to hopefully get what I want to get done."

After that, Kelly will re-examine her priorities.

"I've been wrestling a long time. I want to finish up school and do a few other things. I want to have a family and kids," said Kelly. "If I'm not done wrestling, I'll take a year or two off."