After a decade of national prominence in Greco-Roman wrestling, Jim Gruenwald of the Sunkist Kids finally won his first U.S. Nationals title. Prior to his first national title, Gruenwald had competed in the 2000 Olympic Games, placing sixth, and has two top 10 finishes at the World Championships. For seven straight years, Gruenwald placed second at the U.S. Nationals (in fact, one year he won the title but had it taken away after a protest). He will enter the World Team Trials as the No 1 seed for the first time, and will not have to enter the Challenge Tournament. How Gruenwald handles the new situation of sitting back and waiting for a challenger will be quite interesting.     Placing second to Gruenwald at U.S. Nationals was Glenn Nieradka of the U.S. Army. Last year, Nieradka won the national title, defeating Gruenwald in the finals and earning the Outstanding Wrestler award. Gruenwald claimed the U.S. team spot with a victory at the World Team Trials. Since FILA adjusted the weight classes, Nieradka has looked strong down at 132 pounds, after wrestling at 138.75 pounds in previous seasons. He has competed in many major international events, including the 1999 Pan Am Games, but has yet to make his first U.S. World team. College fans will remember Nieradka as one of the twin brothers who earned All-American honors for Oregon State.    Two talented young athletes have the potential to battle for a spot in the national finals, Joe Warren of the Michigan WC and Jacob Hey of the U.S. Air Force. Warren placed third at the U.S. Nationals this year, defeating Hey in the bronze-medal match, 6-1. The next big step in their careers will be claiming a win over either Gruenwald or Nieradka at a major event, something that neither has been able to do to this point. Training in Colorado Springs, both have paid their dues and have taken numerous international tours to refine their skills.    Placing fifth at U.S. Nationals was veteran Marine wrestler Duaine Martin, who has dropped to 121 pounds for the World Team Trials in recent seasons. After losing in the U.S. Nationals finals, Dennis Hall took an injury withdrawl down to sixth place. Hall is one of the greatest U.S. Greco-Roman champions ever. He has a World-level medal of each color, a World gold, Olympic silver and World bronze. His 10 straight U.S. Nationals titles makes him the most dominant Greco-Roman star of his generation. Many wonder how long Hall will continue to pursue his wrestling dream, especially since he has not been the No. 1 athlete since 1999.    Also qualifying for the World Team Trials after placing seventh at the U.S. Nationals was newcomer James Johnson of the U.S. Army. Two talented young wrestlers from the USOEC University program at Northern Michigan have also qualified for the Trials in Indianapolis: Willie Madison and Nate Piasecki. Madison won a gold medal at the University Nationals. Piasecki qualified by medaling at a major international event in the last two years. A pair of Regional champions are also expected in the field: Jeremy Wynia of the U.S. Air Force and Jay Smith of the Shamrock WC.    Div. I NCAA finalists are automatically qualified to compete in freestyle and Greco-Roman at the World Team Trials. Whether Johnny Thompson, Ryan Lewis or Chris Fleeger choose to try Greco-Roman in Indianapolis is questionable. Certainly, the U.S. Greco-Roman coaches would like to see these college stars attempt to compete in this specialized style.    After a 10-year wait, Jim Gruenwald enters the World Team Trials at the top of the ladder for the first time. There is a strong field of contenders in the Challenge Tournament looking to emerge from the fray and attempt to knock Gruenwald down. Veterans Glenn Nieradka or Dennis Hall are favored to come out of the pack; however, Joe Warren and Jacob Hey would like to make this their breakthrough year. Whoever wins the World Team Trials will seek to return the USA to winning medals at this approximate weight class, just like the glory years when Hall claimed a medal three times in a row (1994-96).    2003 U.S. Greco-Roman Nationals results at 60 kg/132 lbs.  1st - James Gruenwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) dec. Glenn Nieradka (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army), 6-0  3rd - Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) dec. Jacob Hey (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force), 6-1  5th - Duaine Martin (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps) by inj. default over Dennis Hall (Plover, Wis./Sunkist Kids)  7th - James Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) tech. fall Willie Madison (Marquette, Mich./Gator WC), 12-2    2003 World Team Trials qualifiers at 60 kg/132 lbs.  National champion - James Gruenwald (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids)  National placerwinners - 2. Glenn Nieradka (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army); 3. Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC); 4.  Jacob Hey (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force); 5. Duaine Martin (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps); 6. Dennis Hall (Plover, Wis./Sunkist Kids); 7. James Johnson (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army)  NCAA Div. I finalists - Johnny Thompson (Stillwater, Okla./Gator WC); Ryan Lewis (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm); Chris Fleeger (W. Lafayette, Ind./Dave Schultz WC); Regional champions - Jeremy Wynia (Mountain Home, Idaho/U.S. Air Force)*, Jay Smith (Wellsburg, N.Y./Shamrock); Medalist at Group A Tournament - Nate Piasecki (Marquette, Mich./USOEC); University Nationals champion - Willie Madison (Marquette, Mich./USOEC)