Ever since the 2000 Olympics, when young Garrett Lowney of the Minnesota Storm exploded onto the scene with an Olympic bronze medal, this weight class has belonged to him. Lowney has won the last three U.S. Nationals titles, with a variety of challengers hoping to take his spot. In 2001, after the September 11 attacks, when the World Championships were moved from New York to Greece during the college season, Lowney chose to skip the meet to wrestle for the Univ. of Minnesota. In 2002, Lowney fell short of reaching medal contention at the World Championships. Looking to reclaim the magic from Sydney, Lowney is now a full-time Greco-Roman wrestler on a mission.    People tend to forget that Lowney is still young, and has yet to reach his prime in terms of age. Just a year before his Olympic experience, Lowney was a Junior World Injuries have played a role in Lowney's challenges in recent years. A healthy Lowney with a full year of specialized Greco-Roman wrestling could be a real danger by 2004. The key is whether his confidence has taken a beating, something that can only be determined if he wins the World Team Trials and takes on the world once again.    The newest challenger to Lowney's reign is Philip Johnston of the U.S. Air Force, who placed second at the U.S. Nationals and had some strong performances in international tournaments this winter. He knocked off a top international star at the Dave Schultz Memorial International, and fed off that success with a strong U.S. Nationals tournament.    Another rising star is Deon Hicks of the U.S. Marines, who placed third at the U.S. Nationals, his best finish at the national level. Hicks is one of many tough U.S. Marine wrestlers who have been competing in this division in recent years.     Justin Ruiz of the Dave Schultz WC came in fourth this year, but was second behind Lowney at both the World Team Trials and U.S. Nationals in 2002. Ruiz is still hitting his stride, after a two-year Mormon mission followed by college wrestling duties at Nebraska. There was a time during their age-group development when Ruiz won matches against Lowney. It is his goal to turn the tables on him at the Senior level.    Jason Loukides of the U.S. Army, seventh in Las Vegas this year, was second in the 2001 World Team Trials, and represented the USA at the World Championships when Lowney chose not to compete. Loukides has the experience, as well as proven success against this field, to put things together and make another run at the Championship Series.     Frank Workman of the U.S. Marines joins this field of contenders with a solid sixth-place finish at the U.S. Nationals. Veteran Dan Hicks of the U.S. Marines, who has been on Greco-Roman Team USA a number of times, adds experience and skill to this division. Hicks is more like a coach to his U.S. Marines teammates, but can still battle with the best of them in match competition.    Ross Thatcher of the New York AC, who qualified for the World Team Trials by being a medalist at an international tournament, has beaten many of the top athletes at weight class in past competitions. He has not been at his best this season, but has the track record that makes him a serious challenger at this division. Thatcher was fourth at the U.S. Nationals just a year ago.    Chris Moen of the Gator WC also joins the field with an international medal at the Dave Schultz International a season ago. Moen is a young star who is still looking for his first big breakthrough. Regional champions John Groundwater of the U.S. Air Force and Justin Millard of the USOEC University program are both capable of climbing the ladder of success here. The reigning University champion Brian Kraemer of the Minnesota Storm is also making a niche for himself in Greco-Roman, also placing eighth at the U.S. Nationals. NCAA finalists Damion Hahn of Minnesota and Jon Trenge of Lehigh are eligible to enter, but many expect they will concentrate on freestyle.     2003 U.S. Greco-Roman Nationals results at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.  1st - Garrett Lowney (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm) dec. Philip Johnston (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Air Force), 4-0  3rd - Deon Hicks (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps) dec. Justin Ruiz (Taylorsville, Utah/Dave Schultz WC), 4-1  5th - R.C. Johnson (Marquette, Mich./Minnesota Storm) by fall over Frank Workman (Quantico, Va./U.S. Marine Corps), 1:16  7th - Jason Loukides (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) tech. fall Brian Kraemer (Cold Springs, Minn./Minnesota Storm), 12-2