They're back. After finally getting back to the top of the NCAA Division I ladder, Oklahoma State will now look to defend its national team title this season.    They will receive stiff competition from Illinois and Lehigh, newcomers to the powerhouse scene. All three teams have loaded lineups, and Lehigh's might be even better if its best wrestler was not taking an Olympic redshirt.    Another traditional powerhouse, Iowa, seems to be on a path upward after a disappointing end to an exciting season last year. The Hawkeyes' best wrestler will also take an Olympic redshirt year, but this team can still improve from its eighth-place finish one year ago.    So buckle up, strap on the head gear and slap those ears. It's time for another exciting college wrestling season.    To help the repeat efforts, the Cowboys will look to NCAA champions Johnny Thompson (133 lbs.) and Jake Rosholt (184).    Thompson captured his second NCAA individual crown last year and Rosholt pulled an identical feat to that of his mentor, Mark Branch, by winning a national title as a freshman.    The Cowboys will also return All-Americans Tyrone Lewis (165) and Chris Pendleton (174). Zack Esposito (149) will move up in weight this year, a change that should help him to be stronger at the end of the season. Head coach John Smith is also expecting a lot out of freshman Johnny Hendricks (157), who won some big pre-season matches last year.    "Last year was a great experience for our team," Smith said. "This year will present new challenges to us. Now, we are the hunted instead of being the hunters. We have a lot of experience coming back into our lineup and we are excited that the possibilities this team has in front of it."    Oddly enough, Illinois loses its only NCAA champion from last season, yet the team should be much better this season. Good enough, at least, to strongly contend for the national team title.    NCAA finalist Alex Tirapelle (157), only a sophomore, is hungry to win a national title just as his older brother Adam did. He could be nearly unstoppable this season.    Mark Jayne (133) was one point away from being an All-American last season. This could be a big season for him. Sophomore Kyle Ott (125) was wrestling at a high level last year before suffering an injury that forced him to miss the postseason. He will be looking for redemption this year.    Veterans Brian Glynn (184) and Jason Potter (197) will add a lot of leadership to this lineup. Both wrestlers are very solid and can compete on a national level.    Sophomores Anthony Pedrosa (149) and Pete Freidl (174) are much improved and should also contend for All-American slots.    The Fighting Illini will be boosted by three freshmen in the lineup: Michael Martin (141), Don Reynolds (165) and Mike Behnke (285). All were part of a stellar Illinois recruiting class two years ago. There are high expectations on all three wrestlers, but if they pan out, the national team title could be colored blue and orange.    "We are definitely excited about this season going in," head coach Mark Johnson stated. "This may be the best team we have put together since I have been here. We have a lot of hard workers in the wrestling room and every one of these guys is willing to make the sacrifices needed to win."    One of the teams that surprised many last year was Lehigh. This year, this new power will sneak up on no one. Two-time NCAA finalist Jon Trenge (197) has decided to take an Olympic redshirt year, leaving a slight hole in the lineup. Another NCAA finalist, sophomore Troy Letters (165) will return, however.    Letters and All-American Brad Dillon (174) should team up with veterans Travis Frick (184) and Joe Sahl (285) to stack the upper weights of this lineup.    Cory Cooperman (141), an All-American hopeful last year at 133 before he was unable to make weight due to a virus at the NCAA Tournament, will move up in weight. This should allow talented, young Matt Ciasulli (133) to step in and provide a solid one-two punch with Terrance Clendenin (125).    "The kids in our program have really been able to progress over the past two or three years. We have some good wrestlers back on our team this year. We had a goal last year of bringing home an NCAA team trophy. Now, we are beginning to set higher goals for ourselves," Lehigh head coach Greg Strobel stated.    Iowa, as is the case every season, will be good, but this team will have to overcome a lot of hurdles to win the national title this year, which would be the Hawkeyes' first title since 2000.    First, NCAA champion Steve Mocco (285) has decided to take an Olympic redshirt. Second, neither Israel Martinez or Willie Parks, both highly-touted transfers in the off-season, are enrolled at Iowa. Third, this team will need to figure out the postseason collapse it showed last year.    All-Americans Luke Eustice (125) and Cliff Moore (141) return to the lineup this year. Eustice was an NCAA runner-up two years ago. He has the talent to compete with the best, but is yet to be consistent. Moore will move up in weight this year to allow room for Todd Meneely (133), a talented freshman.    Joe Johnston (157) and Tyler Nixt (174) were two of those wrestlers with late collapses last year. They are refocused and seem ready to step onto the All-American podium this year. Ryan Fulsaas (197) showed great improvement last year after two disappointing years. He could break through this year in true Hawkeye fashion.    Freshmen Mark Mueller (165), Paul Bradley (184) and Ryan Fuller (285), along with Meneely, will be the new focus of this Hawkeye squad. If these four prove to be as good as they were in high school, Iowa could be looking at a strong finish this year and a national title next year.    "We had some things happen this year that you can't plan for," head coach Jim Zalesky said. "This is a program with a lot of pride, and these guys know it. We are putting our best wrestlers in the lineup and our goal is still to win a national title at the end of the year."    Nebraska loses two-time All-American Justin Ruiz (197) to an Olympic redshirt but return two-time All-American Jason Powell, who is anxious to be crowned as a national champion. Ruiz is currently a member of the U.S. Greco-Roman World Team.    The Cornhuskers showed a lot of improvement throughout last season, and this season will be able to contend for a team trophy at the NCAA Tournament. Travis Shufelt (149), B.J. Wright (157) and Travis Pascoe (174) are the nucleus of this squad. These three together should win a lot of matches this year and help push this team to some dual wins as well.    Jacob Klein (165) is another solid competitor who adds stability to the middle of the lineup. Coaches feel that Mitch Manstedt (285) can break through this year and end on a high note.    "Our kids have worked really hard this off-season to get better, and I think we have," stated head coach Mark Manning. "This is a good group of wrestlers and I see a lot of good things in their future. Losing Justin hurts this year, but we can't let that hold us back. We have to continue to work hard and get better."    Missouri coaches took a big risk in mid-September, kicking NCAA runner-up Scott Barker (184) off the team for conduct detrimental to the team. While some critics may slam this staff for getting rid of possibly the first NCAA champion in school history, coaches should be commended for looking at what is best for their team.    But, with nearly 30 points gone from the lineup, many others will need to step up this year, including All-American Tyron Woodley (165), who is one of the most talented individuals in the nation, but has never been consistent from one match to the next.    J.P. Reese (141) and Jeremy Spates (149) will also be expected to earn All-American status this year. Both have beaten some of the best wrestlers in the nation over the course of the past two years, but neither has put it together come NCAA Tournament time.    Two newcomers, Paul Collum (133) and Ben Askren (174), should add a lot of spunk to this lineup. Collum is a highly-rated Junior College transfer who has beaten solid Division I competi