Rulon Gardner (Gilbert, Ariz./Sunkist Kids) has been named the 1997 Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year by USA Wrestling. It is the first time that Gardner has won this prestigious award. 
 Gardner placed fifth at 286 pounds at the 1997 Greco-Roman World Wrestling Championships in Wroclaw, Poland in September. It was the top U.S. Greco-Roman performance. 
 His only losses at the World Championships were to three-time Olympic Champion Alexander Karelin of Russia in the semifinals and to 1992 Olympic Champion Hector Millian of Cuba in the consolation rounds. 
 Gardner won four gold medals in 1997. This included two international events, the Pytlasinski Grand Prix in Poland in July and the Sunkist Kids/ASU International Open in Tempe, Ariz., in October. 
 He also won the 1997 U.S. National Championships in Orlando, Fla., in April and the Greco-Roman World Team Trials in Minneapolis, Minn., in June. It was his second career U.S. Nationals title, and he qualified for his first U.S. World Team. 
 Gardner placed second in the 1997 Pan American Championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico and the 1997 Concord Cup International in Concord, Calif., both in May. He was also third in the Granma Cup in Cuba in February and ninth in the Poddubny Tournament in Russia in March. 
 Gardner was an NCAA Div. I All-American for the Univ. of Nebraska, and was also a NJCAA junior college national champion for Ricks College. He attended Star Valley High School in Afton, Wyo. He competes for the Sunkist Kids wrestling club. 
 He also received the 1997 USOC Greco-Roman Wrestler of the Year award. He also won the 1997 USA Wrestling Championship Belt Series in Greco-Roman on the Senior level. 
  PAST GRECO-ROMAN WRESTLER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS 
 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