For the past four years, the 55 kg/121 lbs. weight class in Greco-Roman wrestling in the United States has been completely dominated by veterans. Last year, a pair of Olympic medalists, Brandon Paulson of the Minnesota Storm and Dennis Hall of the Sunkist Kids, battled in a bout worthy of sending the winner to Athens, Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics.    Hall defeated Paulson and went on to represent the U.S. at the Olympic Games for the second time. However, it appears that both wrestlers will no longer compete, leaving this weight class in the younger generation's hands.    The early frontrunner for this weight class is Lindsey Durlacher of the New York AC, who has placed second to Paulson at the last three U.S. National Championships. He also placed second to Paulson at the 2002 and 2003 U.S. World Team Trials. His experience in international competition should help him to be near the top of this weight class again.    College phenom Sam Hazewinkel of the Gator WC will also pose a serious threat at this weight class. Hazewinkel is currently ranked ahead of Durlacher based on a head-to-head win at the Olympic Trials last year, and he placed third in that prestigious event, just two months removed from his college freshman year at Oklahoma.    But Durlacher has won every other career meeting with Hazewinkel, a factor that may go a long way in getting Durlacher the top seed at the U.S. Nationals. The biggest question mark with Hazewinkel is how much training towards winning a college national title will affect his quest to win a Greco-Roman national title.    This year, Joe Betterman of the Gator WC, and also a resident at the U.S. Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan Univ., has had a stellar year. He is living proof of the development that the USOEC is providing. In his last two bouts with Durlacher this year, he has given the national runner-up all he can handle, losing both times by 1-0, 1-0 scores.    With a slight temper, Betterman could be a young version of Hall, but in the last year, he has really controlled his temper on the mat, and not let bad calls change his physical style of wrestling.    Along with Hazewinkel, another young college wrestler, Luke Smith of the Gator WC, made an impact at the national level, placing fifth at the U.S. Nationals and the Olympic Team Trials. Smith is such a short wrestler, that the power he possesses is usually underestimated.    Duaine Martin of the U.S. Army has wrestled up at 60 kg/132 lbs. this year, but if he does come back down to 55 kg, this former U.S. National Team member should also be considered a top contender for the national title.    Joe Espinoza of the Gator WC, and also a resident at the USOEC, and Neal Rodak of the U.S. Army, also have considerable international experience at this point in their respective careers. Rodak recently won a gold medal at the Armed Forces Championships. He has had one of his best years in recent memory.    Both of these wrestlers could provide early matchup trouble for the top-seeded wrestlers at this weight class.    Durlacher, Hazewinkel and Betterman will be the early favorites to come away with this year's national title. These three will receive heavy pressure from a cast of competitors, both young and old. With a new one-day format for weight classes, it will be interesting to see who will be worn down by the end of the day as the tournament nears the finals.    If Hall and Paulson do not compete, which they are not expected to, it would mark the first time since 1991 that a wrestler not named Hall or Paulson won this weight class or its equivalent (125.5 and 127.75 lbs.) at the U.S. Nationals.    2004 U.S. NATIONALS RESULTS  1st - Brandon Paulson, Anoka, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) dec. Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC), 4-2  3rd - Sam Hazewinkel, Pensacola, Fla. (Gator WC) dec. Joe Espinoza, Stockton, Calif. (USOEC/Gator WC), 7-0  5th - Luke Smith, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Gator WC) dec. Joseph Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (USOEC/New York AC), 10-9  7th - Anthony Gibbons, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army) dec. Anthony Brooker, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force), 5-0    THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR APRIL 1, 2005  1. Dennis Hall, Plover, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)  2. Sam Hazewinkel, Pensacola, Fla. (Gator WC)  3. Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  4. Joseph Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (USOEC/New York AC)  5. Luke Smith, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Gator, WC)  6. Duaine Martin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  7. Joe Espinoza, Stockton, Calif. (USOEC/Gator WC)  8. Neal Rodak, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  9. Jeremy McLean, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)  10. Anthony Brooker, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Air Force)