GARRETT LOWNEY  2002-03 Team USA Ranking: No. 1 at 96 kg/211.5 lbs.  Years on Team USA: 4 (2000-04)  Residence: Minneapolis, Minn.  Club: Minnesota Storm  College: Univ. of Minnesota  High School: Appleton, Wis. (Freedom HS)  Born: October 3, 1979 in Appleton, Wis.  Height: 5-11    1. As far as Greco-Roman wrestling is concerned, are you a lot more comfortable this year than you were last year?  Lowney: Definitely. For me right now, I know I'm dedicated to Greco. In the past few years I have been split. It's more of a comfort factor for me where I know I can concentrate on Greco now and everything else is done with.    2. You didn't surrender a single point in the U.S. Nationals. Did you know going in that you would be able to dominate the tournament like that?  Lowney: Going in, I really didn't feel that confident. I hadn't recovered from some of my injuries from college yet. I felt like with the rest of the bracket, some of the guys weren't at their best either. I am going into the Trials expecting more. I know some of these guys weren't at their best either. I think that maybe all of us had an off weekend at the same time.    3. Now that you are not wrestling guys who may weigh 30-40 pounds more than you, do you feel much more comfortable?  Lowney: Definitely. After you get done wrestling guys who are up to about 60 pounds heavier than you, when you get to wrestle guys your weight, it gets a lot more fun. I actually remember how much fun it is to wrestle.    4. You made the decision this year to not come back to the Univ. of Minnesota for your senior season. Were you just burnt out with college wrestling?  Lowney: There were a lot of factors. College wrestling took its toll on me. Trying to compete collegiately and internationally, and then coming straight back to college, is difficult. Everything else with me getting a degree factors in as well. I just knew it would be best for me and I couldn't see myself going to school another year when I didn't have to. I was more burnt out with school than I was with collegiate wrestling. I know it was the right decision.    5. When the season ended, you were not an All-American and your team did not win the national title. Were you disappointed or relieved with the end of your college career?  Lowney: As a team, because of some of the lumps that we took, I wasn't happy, but I was somewhat satisfied with a second place. With the national tournament, there are so many ups and downs, its hard to say if you are satisfied or not. I believe Ryan Lewis worked harder than anyone in the country, but he didn't get his national title that I thought he deserved, but Bobbe Lowe worked hard and became an All-American. That was a high. The season started and ended the same exact way. I had shoulder surgery after the Iowa dual, then I had mono. I came back for a weekend and hurt my hip, so I had to pull out of National Duals. At nationals, I hurt my knee and had to pull out. It was difficult for me to leave on that note. I am surprised it didn't happen sooner. Wrestling guys 60 pounds heavier is going to take a toll on your body.    6. When did you ultimately make the decision that you just wanted to train Greco full-time leading up to the 2004 Olympics?  Lowney: I actually made the decision after my sophomore year. My coaches knew all about it. We have individual meetings after each season and I told them at that point. It was early enough where they weren't caught by surprise about it. My coaches knew and I knew, and that's how we kept it for a while.    7. Do you plan to stay in Minnesota to train, or will you move to Colorado Springs?  Lowney: I plan on staying in Minnesota right now because I am getting married in October. Dan Chandler got me where I am right now, and I think he can get me where I want to be. I can't give up on him and can't give up on what has made me successful so far.    8. Last year, Justin Ruiz did not wrestle in the best-of-three finals because of his religious beliefs that he does not feel as though he should compete on Sundays. Were you disappointed last year and would you be disappointed if it happened again this year?  Lowney: Well last year I was real disappointed because it was in front of my home crowd. Not many people in Minnesota have seen me wrestle Greco. I was excited to perform in front of them. The plus side was that my shoulder was bothering me back then and that just let my shoulder rest more. I would rather earn the spot on the team, but I'll take a World Team membership any way I can. If Ruiz makes it through the Challenge Tournament and chooses to bow out, that says a lot about his character and how important his beliefs are. If he makes it through and decides not to wrestle again, for me it would be somewhat of a disappointment, but it is honorable that Justin sticks with that.    9. Last year at the World Championships, you drew the defending World Champion in your first match. After losing that match, did you basically give up thinking he would not lose his second match?  Lowney: I wrestled in Poland the month before and I felt great. I dominated the Egyptian who took second at Worlds and the Russians were right there with a video camera. When I went into Worlds, my shoulder was still bothering me, and it was a little bit on my mind. When I walked out there, he had a game plan against me, and I didn't really have a game plan against him. He wanted to slow the match down, score his points, and get in positions that I wasn't comfortable in. My mind wasn't in it at that point. Because of my shoulder, I wasn't walking out on the mat with confidence, and it showed in my performance at Worlds.    10. Do you think that FILA should change the pool system and move to a bracketed tournament?  Lowney: I would say yes, but you can look back and half of the guys in your bracket have placed top five in the Worlds. There is a small level of difference between tenth place and first. The level of competition is so close that it really doesn't matter. A 20 year-old kid from Freedom could beat a World Champion at any time.