There is still time. With the economy a mess, and the airline industry in shambles, there are still deals to be made on airline fares. You can jump onto the internet and give it your best shot. If you can steal a few days from family and work, there are many great reasons why you should fly to Las Vegas for a few days, specifically May 9-10.    I'm not talking about the shows, the food, the gambling and the late-night people watching. I'm talking about the 2003 Las Vegas United States National Wrestling Championships at the Las Vegas Convention Center.    In no particular order, here are 10 reasons why I'm looking forward to this annual trek to the desert:    1. Byers vs. Gardner - For the first time in U.S. Greco-Roman history, we have the two defending World Champions competing in the same weight class. Dremiel Byers won the World gold medal in 2002. Rulon Gardner was the 2000 Olympic Champion and 2001 World Champion. Gardner is in his first year of recovery since his horrible night of frostbite. Byers and Gardner have not met since 2001. Has Byers passed Gardner? Has Gardner fully recovered? What gives here?    2. Lincoln McIlravy returns from retirement - The big story in U.S. freestyle wrestling this winter was the decision by 2000 Olympic bronze medalist Lincoln McIlravy to return to the mats. He had a great job, working as USA Wrestling's Resident Freestyle Coach. But the desire to win a gold medal, something he fell just short of while competing, was too much for Lincoln. He has wrestled just once since his announcement, an exhibition dual meet in Iowa. Can McIlravy make scratch weight at 66 kg? Will he be rusty, or start right where he left off? What will two years off do to the Mac Attack?    2a. McIlravy vs. Bono - Prior to his retirement, McIlravy won every match he ever had against rival Chris Bono, from youth programs to college through the Olympic level. Since McIlravy went away to coach, Bono has improved dramatically. He won the World Cup this year, looked strong at the Titan Games, captured a gold medal in Uzbekistan, and is shutting down the offense of all of his opponents. Since 66 kg is probably the deepest division in the nation, there is no guarantee that McIlravy and Bono will even meet. But if they do, will the outcome be different this time?    3. Montgomery vs. Lang - In 2001, Toccara Montgomery was a World silver medalist and was named FILA's International Women's Wrestler of the Year. She has been the Outstanding Wrestler at the U.S. Women's Nationals for two straight years. However, it is possible that she won't even be the top seed at the U.S. Nationals at 72 kg this year. High school sensation Samantha Lang of Oregon, just eligible for the Senior level in 2003, has beaten Montgomery two of three times this year. Lang won matches at the FILA Manitoba Open in Canada and the USGWA Can-Am Championships in Michigan. I saw the match that Montgomery won, in the finals at the Dave Schultz Memorial International. Montgomery is a tremendous talent with a champion's heart. Lang is the real deal, having also beaten six-time World Champion Christine Nordhagen once this winter. If they meet in Vegas, this could be a classic.    4. Veterans Greco-Roman - For the first time, the old-timer warriors who enter the U.S. Veterans Nationals each year will have a new test. USA Wrestling is hosting a Veterans division in Greco-Roman this year. Our Veterans requested this and they got it. Now is the time for them to give it their best. I have enjoyed watching these mature athletes in action in the past. What I am having trouble is picturing what it will look like to see them pummelling in a Greco-Roman bout. Now we will all get a visual image of what Veterans Greco looks like.    5. The 55 kg Freestyle class  - This should be an amazing battle. Stephen Abas has been the man for the last two years, but he should be well tested again this year. Abas has shown skill in beating many of the world's best lightweights during the last two years. His top opponent last season was Teague Moore, who pushed Abas real hard at the World Team Trials and continues to impress on the mats. The return from oblivion by 2000 Olympic silver medalist Sammie Henson is the wildcard this time around. Henson says he is serious again and the results of recent events shows that he seems to have reclaimed the edge. Henson looked really strong at the Dave Schultz Memorial, and he beat the reigning World Champion from Cuba on an international tour. At his best, Henson was well ahead of Abas and Moore. During the last two years, Abas and Moore may have left Henson behind. Or have they?    6. Hall against Gruenwald - I will never tire of this rivalry. For the last three years, Jim Gruenwald has been the top U.S. wrestler at his weight class, getting past his long-time rival Dennis Hall at the Team Trials event. However, Hall is one of the greatest U.S. Greco stars ever, a three-time World-level medalist. This rivalry goes back to high school days in Wisconsin. Remember that Gruenwald has never won the U.S. Nationals, and that until last season, Hall won the nationals 10 straight years. They did not meet in Vegas in 2002, both losing matches to Glenn Nieradka of the U.S. Army. They wrestled once this fall, in the Real ProWrestling show in LA. When these guys battle, they let it all hang out, with tremendous power and skill and emotion.     7. The 66 kg Freestyle Weight - Gosh, how will they seed this thing? First, you have the top three returning stars, Chris Bono, Bill Zadick and Jamill Kelly. All talented, all capable of winning the show. Mix in the return from retirement of Olympic medalist Lincoln McIlravy, who beat everybody in the USA from 1997-2000 but hasn't wrestled since. The fun at this division comes from the rest of the field, jammed full of so much talent and potential that this division should have some barnburners even prior to the quarterfinals. What do you do with people like Jared Frayer, Reggie Wright, T.J. Williams, Doug Schwab, Adam Tirapelle, Eric Larkin, Jesse Jantzen and more. If you wanted to produce a great documentary, videotape all the bouts at this weight class in Las Vegas. It will be tremendous entertainment, guaranteed.    8. High School stars on display - The Western Junior Regionals every year is really like a Spring Nationals event for high school talent. It is the best preview of the high school stars that will be on display in Fargo, N.D. later in the summer at the ASICS Junior Nationals. Just placing in the top six of the weight class in this tournament is a real honor. Winning the gold medal is a tremendous feat. Since it is hard to know what weight classes the top high school kids will choose for this event, you can't get pumped about any specific showdown. But watch the pool finals and the medal match rounds in both freestyle and Greco-Roman, and you can't help but get excited about the quality of youth wrestling in the United States.    9. The U.S. Olympic Training Center women resident athletes - Those who have not seen women's wrestling since last spring will be impressed by the progress of the American women wrestlers in a short time. Since our last visit to Vegas, USA Wrestling hired its first National Women's Coach, the talented Terry Steiner, and helped create the first full-time Women's Resident Athlete Program. The women athletes training under Coach Steiner have taken a tremendous step forward, and their opponents who are not in the resident program have also turned it up. There are Olympic medals out there to be had, and our women are paying the price for success. At the recent University Nationals, resident athletes won six of the eight individual gold medals (one also went to Toccara Montgomery, the other to a Canadian). I really believe women's wrestling is exciting, and I continue to encourage you to give it a chance.    10. T.C. Dantzler - This athlete is something to see. When T.C. is hot, and he has his throws going, he puts on a high-amplitude display that is just unbelievable. Anybody who saw the Titan Games and watched Dantzler toss around his opponent from the International All-Star Team understands wh