The United States had its greatest Greco-Roman World Championships performance in 2001, placing third as a team and winning three medals, including a gold and two silver medals. This follows a tremendous Olympic performance, when the team was third in the medal count and unofficial standings, and again had a gold and two silvers. What will USA Greco-Roman do for an encore?    The 2002 Las Vegas United States Nationals will be the first true test of this year's crop of Greco-Roman talents. The new wrinkle in the story is the change of weight classes from eight to seven, and where the athletes may end up, especially in the middle weights.    Another story will be the hoped-for and anticipated return of 2000 Olympic champion and 2001 World Champion Rulon Gardner, the world's most famous wrestler. Gardner was severely injured and lost a toe to frostbite, after being caught in the cold and snow overnight in the mountains this winter. Gardner vows to return to the mats, but the question is when, and how will he perform? The answer to that question will not be provided in Las Vegas, as Gardner is not yet ready to wrestle.     A weight by weight preview follows:    55 KG/121 LBS.    2001 World silver medalist Brandon Paulson has decided to make another run for the Olympic Games. In 1996, as just a college student, he shocked the world with an Olympic silver medal performance. Last year's effort shows that more medals could be in his future. Chasing Paulson will be No. 2 Jeff Cervone, last season's national champion and a talented veteran. A new force at this weight class is World Military champion Duaine Martin, who has come down from the next weight up and captured the 2002 Armed Forces title. Another top challenger should be Lindsay Durlacher, this year's Dave Schultz Memorial champion and a truly tough competitor.    Joe Espinoza, star from the USOEC Resident program, earned a No. 4 ranking last season. Army wrestlers Michel Santos and Anthony Gibbons are talented challengers. Sean Kim, who is successful in both styles, should be a factor. Chris Williams, who has been impressive on the age-group levels, has a Greco-Roman future. Brady Jones has returned to the mats this year and looks to fulfill his tremendous promise.  Wrestlers such as Willie Madison, Gavin James and Luke Smith could crack through this year nationally.    60 KG/132 LBS.    The fiercest rivalry in American wrestling should continue this year between No. 1 Jim Gruenwald and No. 2 Dennis Hall, Wisconsin natives and international stars. For many years, the edge went to Hall, who won a 1996 Olympic silver medal, as well as a 1995 World gold and a 1994 World bronze. The last two years, Gruenwald made the U.S. team by beating Hall in the Team Trials (2000 Olympics, 2001 Worlds), but Hall has beaten Gruenwald at the U.S. Nationals and other events. If things go to form, we could see another Gruenwald/Hall war this year in Las Vegas.    Those looking to knock these stars off and make the finals himself is past National champion Glenn Nieradka, who has dropped down in weight with the adjustment of the weight divisions. Nieradka may be a force at his new weight. Young Cam Jones has placed as high as third at the U.S. Nationals and has a bright future. Joe Warren has been impressive at this weight in recent tournaments. Jacob Hey, who has been at a few weight classes, may find this new division to his liking. Talented Darnell Lollis has the ability to beat many of the top contenders at any time. USOEC wrestler Nathan Piasecki has moved up to this weight. Veteran Josh Fox is always a factor. College star Harry Lester looks to make his move on the Senior level this year.     66 KG/145.5 LBS.    This weight class promises to be very competitive, as some athletes from the former 138.75-pound division and others from 152-pound class may meet in the middle. The No. 1 at 138.75 pounds has been Kevin Bracken, who was sixth at the 2000 Olympics and has dominated the weight domestically. The No. 1 at 152 pounds last year was Marcel Cooper, a many-time National Team member who climbed to the top for the first time in 2001. What weight Cooper will compete in is a key question. A wrestler who has looked good this season at the new weight is Mike Ellsworth, who has been as high as No. 2 on Team USA in the past at the higher division.    Glenn Garrison, No. 2 at 138.75 last year, is one of a number of very talented military athletes who will make a run at this weight. Garrison and Oscar Wood from the Army and James Shillow of the Marines are top knotch military Greco-Roman athletes. Others who could make an impact are Matt Goldstein, Jason Tolbert, John Paun and Herb House.  This weight could be very volatile, as different athletes decide which weight to go for their run at the next Olympic team.    74 KG/163 LBS.    2001 World Team member Keith Sieracki continues to look very strong, and was impressive in winning the Schultz International at this weight class. He is still motivated to win a medal at the World level and make the next Olympic team. No. 2 last season was T.C. Dantzler, also very experienced and skilled and someone who can score points quickly. 2000 Olympian Heath Sims looked good at the Schultz International, beating Dantzler before falling to Sieracki in the finals.     Keith Wilson, a veteran who was No. 2 behind Marcel Cooper last year at 152 pounds, is expected to move up. So is Steven Woods, last year's U.S. Nationals runner-up at 152 pounds. Both have the ability to make the finals in any event they enter. Brian Van Hoven is always a factor on the national level, and young Tom Ciezki has shown the ability to win against this competition. Darryl Christian has improved as a USOTC resident, and Marine Corps wrestlers Keith Barkers and Joey Clark have had good showings at major events. The depth at this weight is tremendous, as athletes such as Brandon McNab, Jeff Funicello and Ken Cook have the potential to move up high in the rankings. McNab trained extensively in Europe, and looks to turn that experience into success on the home mats.    84 KG/185 LBS.    Last year, 2000 Olympic silver medalist Matt Lindland moved up to this class and became an immediate force, claiming the No. 1 spot in the USA and winning a World silver medal. Lindland is still motivated to add a gold medal to his collection of World honors. Two-time Olympian Dan Henderson had a tremendous 2001 World Team Trials, making the finals against Lindland and beating a number of established athletes on the way. Veteran Ethan Bosch comes in at No. 3 and still seeks his first U.S. team, placing second in the 2000 Olympic Trials.    2000 Olympian Quincey Clark was also the U.S. athlete on the 1999 World Team, and has the stuff to climb back to the top. Brad Vering and Chael Sonnen are among the tough young stars here, and should only get better as they focus on Greco-Roman exclusively. Aaron Sieracki has been dominant among military athletes at this class, and has much international experience. Veteran Kenny Owens has been to the national finals, and young Jake Clark shows the ability to be at the top in the future. James Meyer continues to be a factor nationally. Others to watch include Mike Mathers, Isaac Wood, John Lorenz and Justin Millard, all seeking to climb in the standings.    96 KG/211.75 LBS.    Garrett Lowney blasted onto the international scene with an amazing performance on the way to an Olympic bronze medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Lowney claimed the No. 1 spot in the USA in 2001, but could not compete at the World Championships when the event was moved from September to December and conflicted with his college season. Ranked No. 2 last year was veteran Jason Loukides, who competed for the USA at the World Championships. No. 3 on the National Team ladder was Al Sankey of the Marines, who had a strong World Team Trials event.    Young Ross Thatcher has made a name for himself in Greco-Roman and seeks to climb into the top spot. Dan Hicks, many times a Team USA member, made a strong showing at the 2002 Armed Forces meet, beating Loukides in the finals. Young Chris Moen made a strong statement by taking a