In a battle of World Champions gunning for a single spot on the next Olympic team, 2000 Olympic champion and 2001 World Champion Rulon Gardner (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) edged 2002 World Champion Dremiel Byers (Colorado Springs, Colo./U.S. Army) by a referee's decision in overtime in the finals at 120 kg/264.5 pounds in Greco-Roman wrestling at the New York Athletic Club Christmas Championships in New York City, Dec. 21.    In the women's division, two-time World Champion Kristie Marano (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), competing up a weight division, pinned two-time World silver medalist Toccara Montgomery (Cleveland, Ohio/New York AC) in the finals at 72 kg/158.5 pounds.    It was one of the largest and strongest fields in tournament history, with 82 men freestyle, 82 men Greco-Roman and 33 women's freestyle wrestlers. Many athletes in all three international styles used the event to get prepared for the rigors of the Olympic qualifying process in upcoming months.    The Gardner/Byers match was the final match of the night, and fans packed around the mat to see perhaps the best two heavyweight wrestlers in the world battle for bragging rights and an edge heading into the Olympic year. The match displayed skill and passion, something that will be needed in the future as the two men fight for a single Olympic team berth.    Gardner scored first by capturing the clinch at the beginning of the second period, when Byers broke his lock during their exchange. Trailing 1-0, Byers lifted and threw Gardner for one point late in the period to tie the bout at the end of regulation, 1-1.     Byers scored the next point from the clinch at the start of overtime, locking tight on Gardner and causing him to lose his grip. Gardner tied the match at 2-2 with a spin behind takedown. The three-minute overtime ended with a 2-2 tie.    Gardner won the match based on the criteria of fewest passivity calls. Both athletes had one caution, but Byers had three passivities against him and Gardner had just one.    "I did good," said Gardner. "A win is a win, especially in this situation. This proves what I have to do in the future. He's getting better and I'm getting better."    "It's always a conditioning thing," said Byers. "I'll come out hard in the upcoming training camps. I'm working towards the Olympics. I don't need to peak yet. This gives me something to build from."    Marano and Montgomery were engaged in a close battle between two stars, which ended suddenly. Marano jumped to a 2-0 lead on two takedowns, but Montgomery led the match on a three-point throw, 3-2. In the second period, Marano scored to tie it at 3-3. The athletes battled from there, when Marano was able to lock up Montgomery with nelson, turn and pin her at the 4:00 mark.    "It was good. I am glad some of my stuff is working. This is a step in the right direction," said Marano.    The Outstanding Wrestler in freestyle was Dean Morrison (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC), who captured the 96 kg/211.5 lbs. with a 5-1 win over 2002 World Team member Tim Hartung (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnesota Storm). Morrison is a local product, having competed for Copaigue High School on Long Island.    "This is a great tournament to come back to," said Morrison. "It is nice to see people I grew up with. I have wrestled with the AC since I was in high school."    In men's freestyle, one of the surprises came at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., where Jared Frayer (Dave Schultz WC) beat two-time World Team member Chris Bono (Gilbert, Iowa/Sunkist Kids), 7-4.    2001 World bronze medalist Joe Williams (Iowa City, Iowa/Sunkist Kids) dominated at 74 kg/163 lbs., scoring a 10-0 technical fall over Matt Lackey (Champaign, Ill./New York AC) in the finals. Williams was the only No.1  ranked American competing in the freestyle division.    Other men's freestyle champions were Leroy Vega (Minneapolis, Minn./Minn. Storm) at 55 kg/121 lbs., Michael Lightner (Norman, Okla./Dave Schultz WC) 60 kg/132 lbs., Lee Fullhart (Colorado Springs, Colo/Gator WC) at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Steven Mocco (North Bergen, N.J./New York AC) 120 kg/264.5 lbs.    In men's Greco-Roman, two-time World silver medalist Karem Gaber of Egypt, a crowd favorite for his exciting throws, defeated Armenian wrestling star Khoren Papoyan of the Sunkist Kids, 8-1 in the finals at 96 kg/211.5 pounds.    Two U.S. wrestlers claimed titles by beating athletes from Belarus in the gold-medal finals: Lindsey Durlacher (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 55 kg/121 lbs. and Harry Lester (Marquette, Mich./USOEC) at 66 kg/145.5 lbs.    Durlacher earned a 2-0 overtime referee's decision over Alexei Shaipak, while Lester posted an 11-7 decision over veteran Eduard Apelvich.    Other Greco-Roman champions were Joe Warren (Colorado Springs, Colo./New York AC) at 60 kg/132 lbs., Oleg Mivalovich of Belarus at 74 kg/163 lbs., and Ethan Bosch (New York AC) 84 kg/185 lbs.    Athletes from the United States won five of the six weight divisions in women's freestyle wrestling. The only international champion was Diletta Giampiccola of Italy, who won at 55 kg/121 lbs., defeating Tela O'Donnell (Colorado Springs, Colo./Dave Schultz WC) in the finals, 3-1.    2003 World silver medalist Sara McMann (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) won a competitive five-athlete roundrobin at 63 kg/138.75 pounds. Among her victims were silver medalist Kaci Lyle (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) and bronze medalist Nikola Hartmann of Austria (a five-time World champion).    Other women's champions were Mary Kelly (Mahomet, Ill. New York AC) at 48 kg/105.5 lbs., Malinda Ripley (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 51 kg/112.25 lbs. and Erin Tomeo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) at 59 kg/130 lbs.    Athlete quotes    Men's 120 kg Greco-Roman champion - Rulon Gardner    "I did good. A win is a win, especially in this situation. On the lift, I am glad I gave up one, not the three. He's strong. My conditioning is the best it has been. I am not tired now. I pick up the tempo to match him and beat him. My movement is unbelievable. He got a lift and a knockdown. It was a brutal move. He is getting good at that knee tap, like the Cuban. This proves what I have to do in the future. He's getting better and I'm getting better."    Men's 120 kg Greco-Roman runner-up - Dremiel Byers.    "I am disappointed my lift was not there. His defense is what everybody is seeing. It's questionable but effective. This will motivate me. All matches motivate me, event the ones you don't wrestle. It's always a conditioning thing. I'll come out hard in the upcoming training camps. I'm working towards the Olympics. I don't need to peak yet. This gives me something to build from."    Women's 72 kg champion - Kristie Marano    "It was good. I am glad some of my stuff is working. That is why I came here. I am used to wrestling at that weight, with all the years up at heavyweight. Plus, I work out with heavier athletes. This is a step in the right direction    Men's 96 kg freestyle champion - Dean Morrison    "I feel OK. I don't feel great. I need to get into the zone in training and bring it into competition. This is a great tournament to come back to. It is nice to see people I gew up with. I have wrestled with the AC since I was in high school. This gives me a good feeling about my training. I'm doing the right things. I am thankful that God provided me with good coaching. "    Men's 55 kg Greco-Roman champion - Lindsey Durlacher    (on why he was so pleased with his win)  "I have been going hard and putting in the time at the Olympic Training Center. I have committed myself to be successful. It proves to me and others that I am heading in the right direction. Constant performances like this will lead to an Olympic team berth. This is a great holiday break, and winning makes it extra special."    Men's 74 kg champion - Joe Williams    "I think this is the best I have wrestled in a long time. I have been working on some things. I just felt good. This is important, to keep my weight under control and to see where I am at. It shows me what I have to work on. It was good to break up the training. My offense is