Kevin Bracken is a four-time U.S. Nationals champion. In 2000, he was a member of the Greco-Roman Olympic Team at 63 kg, placing sixth. In 2001, he earned a spot on the U.S. World Team, placing seventh at the World Championships.    Bracken has excelled at all levels of wrestling, dating back long before his 1990 Junior Nationals title. He has seen his alma mater, Illinois State, discontinue their wrestling program, and fought in an attempt to recover it.    After being a resident athlete at the U.S. Olympic Training Center for years, Bracken seems poised to make a move up the international ladder and earn a World medal.    TheMat.com spoke with Bracken about his experiences throughout his career and how he has become the best in the U.S. and one of the best in the world.    TheMat.com: You are at a new weight class this year. How have you managed the move up in weight and how difficult is the competition at 66 kg?  Bracken: The weight is pretty good for me because I was struggling to get down to 138.8.  It was a positive thing for me. It added quite a few people to the field, which obviously makes it more difficult. Most of the guys that were at 63 kg just moved up. Only two guys went down. Glenn Nieradka was one of those and he won U.S. Nationals, which just tells you how tough the weight class is. You have to be flexible and keep a positive mind.    TheMat.com: Were you pleased with your performance at the U.S. Nationals?  Bracken: Sure. A win is a win. I felt that it was a milestone considering all the athletes that are in my weight. I think it has something to say about the toughness of our weight class.    TheMat.com: What do you feel went well and what do you need to improve on before the Team Trials?  Bracken: Something like this is difficult to prepare for. The competition is so tough that it's anybody's ballgame. In a situation like this, it is more important on concentrating on my training and my faults then concentrating on my opponents. As a whole, everybody needs to work on the clinch. Ultimately, I have greater goals than the Trials. If I do the right things to win the World Championships and the Olympics, then the Trials will come naturally.    TheMat.com: You have been involved as a USOTC resident for many years. How has the program helped you to become a champion?  Bracken: The program, with the staff that is in place here, is huge for the development of the United States. Out of the seven finalists in Greco, a majority were resident athletes. That is a credit to the coaching staff and a credit to the environment with the tough athletes in the wrestling room.    TheMat.com: You were very close to winning medals at the 2000 Olympics and the 2001 World Championships. What have you focused on in the past year to help you make the next step?  Bracken: I think the next step is sticking to my plan as well as the coaches plan. It is foolish to say I should prepare for the unexpected. I just need to work on my strengths and really capitalize them and at the same time. My offense is the key to my success so if I can concentrate on that, I think I will be fine.    TheMat.com: What are your thoughts on Title IX in relation to the dropping of the wrestling team at your alma mater, Illinois State?  Bracken: The Illinois State situation is a thorn in my side. I had a lawsuit collectively with other athletes on the men's wrestling and men's soccer teams. It was not for monetary gain, but  a ploy to get our sport back, but the effort failed. The people who made the decision to drop the program are not in place anymore, so I think justice was somewhat served. The lawsuit costed the school $3 million, which made other schools who were considering dropping their programs open their eyes and look for alternatives. I would like to think that because of that, it has made a dent in the Title IX fight. I have a little peace of mind about it, but of course I am still upset about it.    TheMat.com: What individuals have played a major role in helping you excel as a wrestler?  Bracken: That's a difficult question because wrestling is not a part-time thing. It's a career. I have been helped by so many quality people throughout the years, that it is really hard to just start naming people. My old college coaches, the coaches at the OTC and others are just in the recent years. There are so many people to name that it wouldn't be fair to just name a couple.