The United States Greco-Roman team and coaches left for Europe Tuesday to begin their training and acclamation for the 2001 World Championships set for Patras, Greece, Dec. 6-9.      The team features three past Olympic medalists and five Olympians. Only three team members have never wrestled at a World Championships or Olympic Games. Every member of the team has high hopes for a run at the medals.      2000 Olympic champion Rulon Gardner of the Sunkist Kids at 130 kg is the best-known member of this team. After his amazing and unexpected victory over three-time Olympic champion Alexander Kareline of Russia in the Olympic Games finals, Gardner became an overnight celebrity. In spite of his many commercial opportunities and media interviews, Gardner also remains a wrestler on a mission.     A pair of Olympic silver medalists are still mining for their first gold: Brandon Paulson of Minnesota Storm at 54 kg and Matt Lindland of the Sunkist   Kids at 85 kg.     Paulson, a 1996 Olympic silver medalist, took a few years off from the sport after the Atlanta Games to finish college and start a career. His run for the 2000 Olympic team fell short, finishing second in the Olympic Team Trials. After some time away from wrestling, he has returned with a fresh approach and a new chance.     Lindland, who was second in the 2000 Olympic Games, has moved up a weight class and continues a personal quest for a gold medal. Lindland has competed in the World Championships three other times, with his best finish a sixth place in 1998.     A pair of 2000 Olympians James Gruenwald of the Sunkist Kids at 58 kg and Kevin Bracken of the New York AC at 63 kg also made the U.S. team. Both wrestlers were sixth in the Sydney Games.     For the second straight year, Gruenwald defeated archrival Dennis Hall in the trials event to make the U.S. team, after placing behind Hall for many years. Hall, a three-time World-level medalist, ranks among America's best Greco-Roman stars ever. Now it's Gruenwald's job to claim a medal for the USA at this weight class, competing in his first World Championship meet.     Bracken has been to a World Championships, competing in 1998 for the United States. His Olympic performance showed flashes of spectacular wrestling, and Bracken has dominated his American opponents in the following year. Like Gruenwald, Bracken will be seeking his first medal after years of experience on the international levels. His victory at a major event in Poland this summer shows that he is ready for a breakthrough.     The three athletes earning spots on their first U.S. teams were Marcel Cooper of the U.S. Marines at 69 kg, Keith Sieracki of the U.S. Army at 76 kg and Jason Loukides of the U.S. Army at 97 kg. They are all examples of the quality of wrestling in the U.S. military programs and their importance to the U.S. Greco-Roman effort.     After many years on the national circuit, including earning a No. 2 ranking in previous seasons, Cooper gets his first shot at the international field.     Sieracki has also paid his dues for many years. He won U.S. National titles in 1996 and 2001, and just missed out on making the last two Olympic teams. Sieracki chose to remain in wrestling, after the disappointment of the 2000 year.     Loukides placed second to 2000 Olympic Bronze Medalist Garrett Lowney at the 2001 World Team Trials. Lowney has decided not to participate in the World Championships due to his college obligations, so Loukides will fill his spot.     Leading the U.S. team will be Andy Seras of Sandy Hook, Conn., National Coach Steve Fraser of Colorado Springs, Colo. and National Developmental Coach Ike Anderson of Colorado Springs, Colo.     Be sure to check themat.com's special section for updates throughout the World Championships.     2001 U.S. GRECO-ROMAN WORLD TEAM  54 kg - Brandon Paulson, Golden Valley, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)  58 kg - Jim Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  63 kg - Kevin Bracken, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  69 kg - Marcel Cooper, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)  76 kg - Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  85 kg - Matt Lindland, Oregon City, Ore. (Sunkist Kids)  97 kg - Jason Loukides, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  130 kg - Rulon Gardner, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  Head Coach - Andy Seras, Sandy Hook, Conn.  National Greco-Roman Coach - Steve Fraser, Colorado Springs, Colo.  National Developmental Coach - Ike Anderson, Colorado Springs, Colo.    2001 Greco-Roman World Championship Schedule  Wednesday, December 5  Weigh-ins for 54 kg, 63 kg, 76 kg and 97 kg                6:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.  Thursday, December 6  Elimination Rounds for 54 kg, 63 kg, 76 kg and 97 kg      9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  Weigh-ins for 58 kg, 69 kg, 85 kg and 130 kg               4:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.  Opening Ceremony 5:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.  Elimination Rounds for 54 kg, 63 kg, 76 kg and 97 kg       5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.  Friday, December 7  Elimination Rounds for all weights                        9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  Elimination Rounds for 58 kg, 69 kg, 85 kg and 130 kg      5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.  Elimination Rounds and Semi-Finals for 54 kg, 63 kg, 76 kg and 97 kg                                                                5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.  Saturday, December 8  Elimination Rounds and Semi-Finals for 58 kg, 69 kg, 85 kg and 130 kg                                                                9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  Semi-Finals & Quarter-Finals for 54 kg, 63 kg, 76 kg and 97 kg                                                             9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  Medals for 54 kg, 63 kg, 76 kg and 97 kg                   5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  Sunday, December 9  Semi-Finals & Quarter-Finals for 58 kg, 69 kg, 85 kg and 130 kg                                                               9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.  Medals for 58 kg, 69 kg, 85 kg and 130 kg                  5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.