European power Germany has announced its lineup for the Northern Quest 2002 World Cup of Wrestling, set for April 6-7 at the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Wash.     Leading the German team is 1994 World Champion Alexander Leipold, competing at 74 kg/163 lbs. Leipold has been one of the world's best wrestlers for many years, winning numerous titles and medals at major international competitions.    Leipold has won five World Championships medals, a gold in 1994, silvers in 1995, 1997 and 1999 and a bronze in 1998. He has participated in three Olympic Games (1992, 1996, 2000) but has won no medals. Fans may remember Leipold as the athlete who claimed a gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics who had the medal stripped after testing positive for steroids, with the gold going to American Brandon Slay.    He has been a popular athlete at past World Cups, winning gold medals in 1997, 1998 and 1999. Fans in Spokane may remember Leipold for his tremendous performance on the way to gold at the 1999 World Cup.    Another top world star on the German team is Sven Thiele at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Thiele won a silver medal at the 1995 World Championships. He also has competed in two Olympic Games, placing sixth in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and seventh in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney.    Thiele won a bronze medal at the 1999 Freestyle World Cup, held in Spokane, Wash. and was also fifth in the 1998 Freestyle World Cup.    The German team will feature the best athletes in the nation, with all seven individual champions from the 2002 German National Championships included on the World Cup roster. The German federation used its national championships held just two weeks ago as the selection procedure for the World Cup team.    Among the athletes from the 2001 German World Championships team that will participate in Spokane are Leipold and Thiele, plus Jurgen Schlegel at 55 kg/121 lbs., Sergei Kowalenko at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Andre Backhaus at 84 kg/185 lbs.    Backhaus is one of the most experienced and talented wrestlers on the German team. He has represented Germany at five World Championships events. Among his career highlights was a gold medal at the 1993 European Championships. He also has considerable World Cup experience, placing fifth in the 1998 and 1999 Freestyle World Cups.    Schegel placed seventh in the 2001 World Championships for Germany, while Kowalenko was unable to place in the top 10. Both are projected to be top contenders for the 2004 German Olympic team.    Another veteran on the German lineup is Vasilij Zeiher at 55 kg/121 lbs. Zeiher competed in the 2000 Olympic Games, as well as the 1998 and 1999 World Championships for Germany.    Rounding out the German lineup are 2001 German National champions Daniel Wild at 60 kg/132 lbs., Engin Urun at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. and Juri Schmatow at 97 kg/211.5 lbs.    Germany is one of five international wrestling powers competing at the Northern Quest 2002 World Cup of Wrestling. Other nations include the United States, Russia, Korea and Canada.    The Quad State Cup, a USA Wrestling event for athletes from Kids through Open, will be held alongside the World Cup. Young wrestlers can do both - wrestle and watch! For information, contact Craig Hanson at (509)226-0765 or Dale Imes at (509)226-3715.    FanFest will be the activity and hospitality gathering area just for fans at the Northern Quest 2002 World Cup of Wrestling. Meet with your friends before and between sessions. This will be a place to gather autographs, get souvenirs and see the latest in equipment and innovations in wrestling. It will be free and tons of fun!! Join the festivities at the SeasonTicket directly north of the Arena.    Single session tickets are now on sale and range in price from $13-26. Call 1-800-325-SEAT or go to the web site at www.ticketswest.com. An all session adult pass is $69 while an all-session youth pass is $59. Groups of 10 or more receive a $4 discount per ticket. USA Wrestling members, Military Personnel and Seniors 55 and older receive a $2 discount per ticket. No multiple combination of discounts will be accepted.     The headquarters hotel is the Doubletree Spokane City Center. Call 509-455-9600 and ask for the World Cup rate.    For additional information, contact Star USA at 509-448-6829.    GERMANY WORLD CUP TEAM  55 kg/121 lbs. - Jurgen Schlegel and Vasilij Zeiher  60 kg/132 lbs. - Daniel Wild  66 kg/145.5 lbs. - Engin Urun and Sergei Kowalenko  74 kg/163 lbs. - Alexander Leipold  84 kg/185 lbs. - Andre Backhaus  97 kg/211.5 lbs. - Juri Schmatow  120 kg/264.5 lbs. -  Sven Thiele