As the Olympic clock begins to tick down, the top men's and women's freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers in the United States will begin to make their final attempts at earning a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team.     The major step in that quest begins with the U.S. Nationals in Las Vegas, Nev., April 9-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.     History shows that the U.S. Nationals competition is always larger and more intense during an Olympic year than at any other time. The event serves as the major qualifying event for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Wrestling, set for Indianapolis, Ind., May 21-23.    America's best wrestlers in all three styles are expected to be there in top form.     The top eight placewinners in each style at Olympic weight classes in men's freestyle, men's Greco-Roman and women's freestyle qualify for the FInal Olympic Trials event.     In the three women's non-Olympic weights, the top four qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.    Perhaps most importantly, the champions from the U.S. National Championships earn the No. 1 seed at the Olympic Trials, and advance directly into the championship series. This is a major advantage to the national champions, who do not have to compete in the grueling Challenge Tournament portion of the Trials event. Only four members of the 2000 Olympic Team were not U.S. Nationals champions that season.     It will be a historic U.S. Nationals event, because for the first time women's freestyle wrestling will be contested in the Olympic Games. This makes the women's division of the 2004 U.S. Nationals the most important ever held at this event due to its implications on the Olympic process.     The defending U.S. Nationals champions include:    Men's freestyle defending champions  121 - Steven Abas, Fresno, Calif. (Sunkist Kids)  132 - Eric Guerrero, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  145.5 - Chris Bono, Gilbert, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  163 - Joe Williams, Iowa City, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  185 - Cael Sanderson, Ames, Iowa (Sunkist Kids)  211.5 - Daniel Cormier, Stillwater, Okla. (Gator WC)  264.5 - Kerry McCoy, Bethlehem, Pa. (New York AC).    Women's freestyle defending champions   105.5 - Patricia Miranda, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC)  112.25 - Malinda Ripley, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  121 - Tela O'Donnell, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Dave Schultz WC)  130 - Sally Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)  138.75 - Sara McMann, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  147.5 - Katie Downing, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  158.5 - Toccara Montgomery, Cleveland, Ohio (New York AC).     Men's Greco-Roman defending champions  121 - Brandon Paulson, Anoka, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)  132 - Jim Gruenwald, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Sunkist Kids)  145.5 - Kevin Bracken, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  163 - Keith Sieracki, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  185 - Brad Vering, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  211.5 - Garrett Lowney, Appleton, Wis. (Minnesota Storm)  264.5 - Dremiel Byers, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army).    There have been some preliminary Olympic Trials qualifier events held prior to the U.S. Nationals on the Regional level. For an update on the athletes who have qualified for the Indianapolis Trials (by state), visit this following page on TheMat.com.    Click here for Olympic Trials qualifiers    For those who are unable to attend the U.S. Nationals Championships, updated results will be posted throughout the tournament on TheMat.com in a special section.    Click here for special section    As with last year, the other popular events being held alongside the U.S. Nationals will be the Veterans National Championships, as well as the Western Junior Regionals.     For the first time, both a freestyle and Greco-Roman division was held last year at the Veterans Nationals. The response was outstanding and more participants are expected to compete in both styles this year. The Veterans National Championships is set for April 8-9.    The Western Junior Regionals is traditionally one of the most challenging in the nation, as many of the nation's best high school wrestlers attend to test themselves in both freestyle and Greco-Roman. The Western Junior Regionals are scheduled for April 7-9.    For more information on this year's events, contact Larry Barnson at (702) 361-5017.