Japan is the team to beat every year, but many other nations believe that they can come out on top in the team race this year. Since women's wrestling was named as an Olympic sport two years ago, many nations have been beefing up their women's programs, including the United States. The result has been a tremendous jump in the quality and intensity of the wrestling, but the question is just how much the gap has been closed between Japan and the rest of the field.    Going back to 1987, when the first Women's World Championships were recognized, Japan has captured 10 of 15 team titles. In 2002, in Halkida, Greece, Japan retained its team title, lost the year before to China. What is even more impressive is that if you look at the four weight classes that will be contested at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games (48 kg, 55 kg, 63 kg, 72 kg), Japan won three gold medals in Halkida.    Certainly, the most decorated of the current Japanese stars is four-time World champion Kyoko Hamaguchi, who competes at 72 kg. Her four World titles is an impressive feat, and she is capable of winning every time she wrestles. Joining Hamaguchi as 2002 World champions were Saori Yoshida at 55 kg and Kaori Icho at 63 kg. All three are reportedly competing in New York. Also expected in the field is Seiko Yamamoto, who won three World titles from 1999-2001. Yamamoto is usually at 55 kg, but will reportedly jump to 59 kg for the Worlds this year. Add is talented Makiko Sakamoto at 48 kg, Chiharu Icho at 51 kg and Norie Sato at 67 kg, and Japan has a powerful lineup again. Word is that the Japanese coaches expect a dominant performance in New York, something that perhaps only Japan can do in this time of change within women's wrestling.    JAPAN  48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Makiko Sakamoto or Miu Yamamoto  51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Hitomi Sakamoto or Chiharu Icho  55 kg/121 lbs. - Saori Yoshida   59 kg/130 lbs. - Rena Iwama or Seiko Yamamoto  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Kaori Icho or Ayako Shoda  67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Norie Sato or Eri Sakamoto  72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Kyoko Hamaguchi    Placing a surprising second last year at the World Championships was Sweden, which had silver medalists in Sara Eriksson at 63 kg and Lotta Andersson at 59 kg and bronze medalists in Ida Hellstrom at 48 kg and Ida-Therese Karlsson at 55 kg. Basically, these athletes carried the entire team with tremendous individual performances. Eriksson has won a number of World gold medals in her career, and is wrestling at the highest weight she has ever contested. Hellstrom has been in the medal rounds in the past, and has seemed to compete well at the lowest division. The performances by Andersson and Karlsson were a bit surprising, but the Swedish lineup was wrestling well in Greece last year.    Sweden will need a similar performance this year from each of its stars, because for some reason the team is only entering four wrestlers, rather than the full set of seven athletes. Andersson is not on the roster, replaced by Helena Allandi at 59 kg. For Sweden to be a factor this time, they will need everybody to win their pools and battle for medals. That will be difficult feat two years in a row, but then again, the quality of the Swedish program has always been solid.     SWEDEN  48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Ida Hellstrom  55 kg/121 lbs. - Ida-Therese Karlsson  59 kg/130 lbs. - Helena Allandi  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara Eriksson    Russia, which is dominant in men's wrestling, has also developed a strong women's team. Twice, Russia has won the World Team title in women's wrestling, and last year, the team was third, just one point behind Sweden. Just like the men's team, Russia sent in a number of athlete names on its roster, with the chosen performers not identified. In fact, the Russian information sent to the organizers did not even list weight classes, making the true identity of the team quite a mystery.    Last year, Alena Cartashova won the world title at 59 kg. As this is not an Olympic weight class, it is possible that Cartashova might jump up to 63 kg. Veteran Inga Karamtchakova was a World silver medalist last year at 48 kg, and she also appears on the tentative Russian lineup. Natalia Golts won the bronze medal last year at 51 kg, but she has also been wrestling at an Olympic weight class, 55 kg in recent competitions. Again, who is wrestling where will be something we all learn at weigh-ins.    Russia has a number of other talented athletes in its system, including past World medalist Anna Shamova at 67 kg. Natalia Karamchakova, who wrestles at 51 kg, Lubov Volosova at 63 kg and Svetlana Martyenko at 72 kg are all capable of medal performances. On a good year, Russia can capture the title, and during other years, the team is among the top few squads. With spots in the Olympics at stake in the four Olympic divisions, expect the Russians to be strong and prepared.    RUSSIA  48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Lorisa Oorjak, Liliya Kaskarova, Inga Karamchakova or Natalia Ilina  51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Natalia Karamchakova  55 kg/121 lbs. -Natalia Golts or Svetlana Gratcheva  59 kg/130 lbs. - Alena Kartacheva  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Anna Polovneva or Lubov Volosova  67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Anna Shamova  72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Svetlana Martynenko, Anastasia Dezhneva or Guzel Manyurova    What can be expected of the host United States? If you look at last year's 11th place finish, you might be discouraged. If you realize that in 1999, the United States was the World Team champions, you can get excited. Ever since women's wrestling came on the scene internationally, the USA has been competitive and has developed World medalists. This year should be no exception. In fact, U.S. coaches are looking for the team to be "exceptional," right in the thick of the team race. The team is experienced, talented, and motivated to enjoy its home field advantage.    The 11th place in Halkida was caused by a slow start and some tremendously difficult draws. Two Americans emerged with medals, silver-medalist Tina George at 55 kg and bronze-medalist Kristie Marano at 67 kg. Both are on the American team in New York. Marano is six for six in winning World medals, with one gold, four silvers and a bronze to her credit. She is a fierce competitor who seems to win when it counts. George, who had her best career performance, has added consistency to her vast abilities and strength.     Two other Americans have won past World medals, Patricia Miranda at 48 kg and Toccara Montgomery at 72 kg. Both are at new weight classes from where they won the medal, with Miranda dropping in weight and Montgomery moving up. Both had disappointments last year in Halkida. Miranda has been on a mission this year, winning against many top stars during tours. Montgomery has learned to wrestle more like a heavyweight, and should be very dangerous right from the start.  Although she has yet to win a medal, Sara McMann at 63 kg has also beaten most of her top competitors and has been very successful this season. All of these people could win medals with good performances.    The two newcomers on the "Yankee" team are 51 kg Jenny Wong and 59 kg Sally Roberts. Wong has paid her dues, winning the World Team Trials for two straight years. This year, she won her Special Wrestle-off after losing it last year. Roberts is an exciting new star, who has bounced between 59 kg and 63 kg but seems to have her weight issues managed. She has tremendous power and passion in her style, and could surprise athletes who have not seen her yet. The U.S. coaches are looking to make some history in New York.     UNITED STATES  48 kg/105.5 lbs. - Patricia Miranda  51 kg/112.25 lbs. - Jenny Wong   55 kg/121 lbs. - Tina George  59 kg/130 lbs. - Sally Roberts  63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Sara McMann  67 kg/147.5 lbs. - Kristie Marano  72 kg/158.5 lbs. - Toccara Montgomery    Germany has developed a strong overall program, and is showing good progress in the youth programs as well. Germany's top star at this time is defending World Champion Brigitte Wagner at 48 kg, who was also a Junior World Champion a few seasons ago. Wagner will be backed up by past World finalist Anita Schatzle at 72 kg, and talented veteran Stephanie Gross at 63 kg. The three at