Rulon Gardner (Afton, Wyo./Sunkist Kids) has been named the 2000 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the second time that Gardner has won this award (1997, 2000).    Gardner won an Olympic gold medal at 286 pounds, the top U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling performance in 2000. In a miraculous effort, he defeated previously unbeaten Alexandre Kareline of Russia in the gold-medal finals, 1-0 in overtime in the gold-medal match. Karelin had won three Olympic golds and nine World golds, never losing an international wrestling match since his career began in 1985.    Gardner won five matches on the way to the title - and was competing in his first Olympic Games. In addition to Kareline, he defeated Omrane Ayari of Tunisia, Haykaz Galstyan of Armenia and Giuseppe Giunta of Italy in his pool, then stopped Juri Yevseychyc of Israel in the semifinals.     Gardner led the U.S. Greco-Roman team to a strong third-place finish in the medal count and unofficial standings, its best performance in history. He was selected by his peers to carry the U.S. flag in the Closing Ceremonies at the Olympic Games in Sydney.    Gardner was the 2000 U.S. Olympic Team Trials champion, defeating 1996 Olympic silver medalist Matt Ghaffari in the finals. He was also the 2000 U.S. Nationals champion, his third career U.S. Nationals title, defeating Ghaffari in the finals.    Internationally, he was the 2000 Pan American Championships champion, defeating 1992 Olympic champion Hector Millian of Cuba in the finals. He also won gold medals at the 2000 Dave Schultz Memorial International in the United States, and the 2000 Granma Cup in Cuba. Gardner placed second in 2000 Poddoubny Tournament in Russia, considered the best open international meet in the world. He compiled a 24-2 Greco-Roman record during the 2000 year.    Gardner is a U.S. Olympic Training Center resident athlete. He was an NCAA All-American at the Univ. of Nebraska and an NJCAA national champion at Ricks College. He was a state champion for Star Valley High School (Wyo.).    USA Wrestling will be announcing major award winners each day this week on TheMat.com, the official web page of the Amateur Wrestling Alliance.    PAST GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS  2000 - Rulon Gardner, Afton, Wyo., Sunkist Kids  1999 - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo., U.S. Army  1998 - Matt Lindland, Lincoln, Neb., Sunkist Kids  1997 - Rulon Gardner, Gilbert, Ariz., Sunkist Kids  1996 - Dennis Hall, Stevens, Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids  1995 - Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids  1994 - Dennis Hall, Stevens Point, Wis., Sunkist Kids  1993 - James Johnson, Phoenix, Ariz., Sunkist Kids