The top athlete the last three years has been Brandon Paulson, a 1996 Olympic silver medalist and 2001 World silver medalist. Paulson has experience and technique, and made the commitment to seek another Olympic medal. Although he is a veteran in regards to international wrestling, he is still young enough to be at or near his prime.     His gold medal at an Olympic qualifying event this winter shows he can beat top foreign stars when it counts. Paulson's performance in Serbia-Montenegro was impressive, with six wins along the way. He beat a former World champion Erkin Yildiz of Turkey in the finals. Paulson made his impact as a college student; now a mature family man, he wishes to make a lasting legacy with an Olympic title. He has been very consistent in beating the top American challengers, and will aim to try to keep that edge.    Placing behind Paulson at most of the major events in recent seasons has been No. 2 Lindsey Durlacher, who has continued to improve his skills. Durlacher has beaten all of the other U.S. rivals, emerging as the top challenger to Paulson. Durlacher has been wrestling in many events, getting the valuable international experience whenever possible. He beat a top Belarus wrestler to win the New York AC meet. He won silver medals at the Vaanta Cup, losing to a Russian, and a silver medal at the Dave Schultz International, losing to an athlete from India. Has Durlacher improved enough to get that big win over Paulson that has eluded him in recent seasons? He is paying his dues as a USOTC resident, and should be at his best this week.    A new twist came this winter when two-time Olympian and 1995 World champion Dennis Hall dropped to this division to win a tournament in Bulgaria. Of course, Hall had a 2 kg allowance at that event, meaning Las Vegas will be his first time down at this very light division. Hall has not weighed this little since high school, but expects to immediately challenge Paulson and the others here. Already one of the best in U.S. history, Hall could add to his legacy by making a third Olympic team. At this weight, Hall could have a major advantage with his power. His intensity is legendary.    Standing at No. 3 going into the season is Army wrestler Anthony Gibbons, a consistent athlete who is coming off a strong year. By winning the gold medal at the Armed Forces tournament, Gibbons has already secured a spot in the Indianapolis Trials. Gibbons still seeks a win over a "big name" wrestler in this division when it counts. Perhaps the U.S. Nationals will give him that opportunity.    Joe Espinoza, from the USOEC university program, has moved into serious contention with strong performances in recent years. He is explosive, strong, aggressive and improved on a technical level. Espinoza has lost the last two times he wrestled Gibbons, but defeated Gibbons to win the gold medal at the Sunkist Kids International. It will be a big step for him to get into the finals in Las Vegas, something that he may just be capable of.    Sam Hazewinkel, whose father and uncle were Olympians, is competing in college and has a great future in Greco-Roman. His third place in the NCAA as a freshman at the Univ. of Oklahoma shows he has great folkstyle skills. He has placed high in many Senior level Greco-Roman events, even while still in high school. Hazewinkel has already locked up a spot in the Olympic Trials with a win at a Regional. Will his Greco-Roman skills be honed enough this close to the end of the college season?    U.S. Marine Duane Martin, who has made numerous Greco-Roman National teams, is a force when he drops to this division. He made 55 kg for the Dave Schultz Memorial, and lost to Durlacher and two international athletes. Martin has experience that is unrivaled by the other competitors in this division. The question with Martin is whether he is past his prime, or if he still has the goods to beat the tough athletes in a close match. Nobody will want to draw Martin in Las Vegas.    Michel Santos and Neal Rodak have emerged from the strong military programs. Santos made his mark as a U.S. Army athlete, and Rodak was developed through the U.S. Navy program. Santos has not wrestled at all this year. Rodak has not been sharp in the events he has entered this year, but has proven in the past that he can rise high in this division when he is wrestling well.    Joe Betterman has made rapid progress at the USOEC program, and boasts a win over Gibbons at the New York AC Tournament. He is an athlete who should be around for quite awhile, and will continue to improve.     Luke Smith is taking a year off from college at Central Michigan, and is seeking an Olympic redshirt. He has already placed himself in the field at the Indianapolis Trials with a victory at one of the Regionals. Smith showed strong Greco-Roman skills in high school and has stayed active on this level during his college career.     This weight class will not feature many surprises. Perhaps a former athlete will make a comeback, or some high school or college kid win some bouts, but there is no tremendous depth here like in other divisions. With two of America's greatest Greco-Roman stars in the division,  Paulson and Hall, and a talented athlete seeking his time in the sun, in Durlacher, the competition will be fierce. Perhaps one of the other athletes will have a true breakthrough. Still, if there is a Paulson vs. Hall battle at the end of this tournament, it will be a match that everybody will want to watch.    THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR APRIL 2004  55 KG/121 LBS. IN GRECO-ROMAN  1. Brandon Paulson, Coon Rapids, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)  2. Dennis Hall, Plover, Wis. (Sunkist Kids)  3. Lindsey Durlacher, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  4. Joseph Betterman, Chicago, Ill. (USOEC/New York AC)  5. Anthony Gibbons, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)  6. Joe Espinoza, Stockton, Calif. (USOEC/Gator WC)  7. Sam Hazewinkel, Pensacola, Fla. (Gator WC)  8. Neal Rodak, San Diego, Calif. (U.S. Navy)  9. Duaine Martin, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)  10. Luke Smith, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Gator WC)    ATHLETES ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS  Armed Forces Champion  - Anthony Gibbons, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  West Regional Trials Champion - Zac Enoch (Washington)  North Regional Trials Champion -Luke Smith, Chippewa Falls, Wis. (Gator WC)  Central Regional Trials Champion -Sam Hazewinkel, Pensacola, Fla. (Gator WC)