The U.S. Greco-Roman World team made history at the World Championships in September 2007, winning the first ever team gold for a U.S. Greco-Roman team at the event.

Now, six months away from the Olympic Games, many of the wrestlers that have a chance to make the Olympic team are competing at the Dave Schultz International Memorial, Feb. 8-10 in Colorado Springs.

"At this event we are looking to fine tune," said U.S. Olympic Team Coach Jay Antonelli. "We are looking to improve.  This is one of the best fields we have had at the Schultz in terms of medalists who are competing."

The Dave Schultz Memorial gives all the wrestlers a chance to use all the techniques that they have been practicing in competition.  More than 300 wrestlers are expected to take part in this year's event in all three styles.

"We want to do all the right things this weekend," said U.S. Olympic Team Coach Rich Estrella. "We are focused on our scoring, getting our opponents tired, scoring first on our feet to get on top."

Antonelli and Estrella are working with USA Wrestling National Greco-Roman Coach Steve Fraser on executing a plan to retain the U.S. as the top nation in the world in Greco-Roman

The U.S. will not only be focused on themselves, but also on their international competition.  The Schultz event is giving the U.S. Greco-Roman wrestlers in all weight classes the chance to compete against some of the best wrestlers in the world.

A number of countries with strong Greco-Roman wrestling traditions are competing this weekend, including Poland, Kazakhstan, Bulgaria, and Cuba.

"We are going to battle this weekend," said Antonelli. "We want to feel out some of our international competition, see what they are doing, scout, and make the adjustments that we need to."

Not only will this competition give U.S. competitors a chance against their international counterparts, it will also give the wrestlers and coaches of the Greco-Roman team a chance to scout some of the countries standing in the way of Olympic berths.

The Pan American Championships, to be held in Colorado Springs, Colo., February 28-March 2, will provide the next chance for the U.S. to qualify in three weight classes for the Olympics, at 60 kg/132 lbs., 74 kg/163 lbs, and 96 kg/211.5 lbs.

"Cuba is here and we will battle them in three weights at the Pan American Championships to get weights qualified," Antonelli said. "This is a great chance to see what they do."

Even as the coaches and wrestlers are focused on the competing at the Schultz and the Pan American Championships, they continue to concentrate on the Olympics as the ultimate goal.

"Today is exactly six months from the beginning of the Olympics Games," said Estrella. "The wrestling team has been wrestling really well since the World Championships.  Our No. 1, everyone really, is focused on doing what they need to."

Greco-Roman wrestling in the U.S. has been revitalized by the win at the World Championships, and it is showing in programs and clubs throughout the country.

"The great things are the USOTC, the USOEC, the Army, the Air Force, all the clubs, everyone is headed in one direction," Estrella said. "To have everyone thinking the same, and not doing different things, which makes a huge difference."

Ultimately, the win at the World Championships has raised the level of Greco-Roman wrestling in the U.S., and that bodes well for the program's Olympics hopes in Beijing.

"The biggest thing, coming off the historic win at the World Championships, is that our guys believe," Antonelli said. "They believe what we are doing, and they are willing to do anything we ask."