One of the stars of the U.S. Greco-Roman program has been 2000 Olympian Kevin Bracken, who has maintained his No. 1 status for the last five years. Bracken has won many medals in international events, including a World Cup gold, but is still seeking his first World-level medal. This could be Bracken's last shot for Olympic glory and he knows it. His intensity in training is matching the reality that Athens offers him the best chance to achieve his goals.    Bracken has always been a battler, and gives his opponents a strong fight. He has shown a little inconsistency recently, including a down performance at the Pan American Games last summer. However, Bracken's courageous performance at the Olympic Qualifying event in Serbia-Montenegro, where he rebounded from a quarterfinal loss to place fifth and earn the Olympic berth, was encouraging. He has also shown that he is not yet ready to give up his No. 1 spot in the USA, and somebody is going to have to take it away from him.    His top two challengers in recent seasons are  both from the U.S. Marines, No. 2 James Shillow and No. 3 Marcel Cooper. Shillow has made the World Team Trials finals for two straight years. Cooper was on the 2001 U.S. World Team and has much more experience than most of his opponents. Recently, the younger Shillow has had an edge over Cooper. Shillow represented the Marines at the Armed Forces Championships, which he won again this year, earning an automatic bid into the Olympic Team Trials in Indianapolis. Cooper has experienced and is a big man at this division, and will be a tough battle for anybody. These two athletes are among the best in the U.S. Marines program, and have     Receiving his citizenship this year is Faruk Sahin, an immigrant from Turkey who has wrestled well in a number of international events since moving to the USA. He has been an integral part of the U.S. Greco-Roman program along the way, training with top U.S. wrestlers and keeping his skills sharp.  Sahin joined the U.S. Army, which assisted him in getting his citizenship. He is expected to shake things up in this division. Sahin won gold medals at the Sunkist Kids International and the Dave Schultz Memorial, and has beaten many of the other contenders at this division. Although he is from another nation, he does not have the recent international experience that Bracken has gained.     Another veteran with the ability to perform here is Mike Ellsworth, who has been ranked as high as No. 2 in past seasons. Ellsworth can be dangerous when wrestling well, and has confidence in himself. He was a hero when he went to Iran a few winters ago and won a gold medal at the Tahkti Cup. He also is dealing with the fact that he was not even in the Olympic Trials in 2000, falling short during a challenging qualifying process. His decision to continue for another Olympic four year cycle shows that this is important to him.    Mark Rial has emerged as a Greco-Roman talent who is moving up the ladder. Since becoming a USOTC resident, Rial has shown some good results, including a silver medal at the Sunkist Kids International. He defeated two established athletes, Oscar Wood and Harry Lester, in that tournament. He is the kind of athlete that may be under the radar screen among wrestling fans, but his opponents know all about him and his abilities.     Young Harry Lester, who chose a Greco-Roman career rather than compete on the major college scene, is considered the future of this division. He spent some time at Iowa State, but then moved on the USOEC Greco-Roman university program to concentrate on the Olympic style. Lester aims to make the future come quickly, and knock off the older veterans. He won a gold medal at the New York AC International and a bronze at the Sunkist Kids International, further proof that he is continuing his development in this style.     When he drops to this division, Steve Woods of the U.S. Air Force is an immediate force. Expect that move down, either at the U.S. Nationals or in the Olympic Trials, because the 74 kg division was not qualified by the USA for the Olympics. He has been to the U.S. Nationals finals, and is already qualified for the Olympic Trials. Woods won the Armed Forces gold medal, beating veteran Keith Sieracki in the finals at 74 kg.     Another athlete moving into this division is Brandon McNab, who made that change prior to the fact that the 74 kg division was not qualified. McNab has paid his dues, training in Europe for a period and now working daily at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. He is also already in the field in Indianapolis with a Regional victory. Greco-Roman is a specialty sport, and McNab chose to specialize in the style during high school, a decision that could pay off for him.    U.S. Army wrestlers Oscar Wood and Glenn Garrison are past Team USA members and can compete with anybody. Wood lost a 3-2 match to Shillow in the Armed Forces finals, showing just how close he is to the top of this division. Garrison has had less success in recent events, but has the experience and skill to be a factor at any time.    Cory Posey is also a threat at this division, another athlete who chose Greco-Roman while still on the Junior level and became a resident athlete after his college career ended at Michigan State. Wrestlers who have already earned spots in the Olympic Team Trials include Kelly Pederson of the Marines and James Johnson of the Army.  Zach Lomano, Jacob Curby, Ron Muir and Mervin Ford will be the mix of things in Las Vegas, adding some depth to the division.    Still, this has been Kevin Bracken's weight class for many years, and he has the tools and motivation to keep things that way. Faruk Sahin adds a new element to the situation, with the skills and training situation that could lead to international success. There is sufficient depth at this weight that it is hard to predict who will work through the early rounds and place high on the medal chart. There is enough young talent that upsets could and should be expected. Now is the time to put all of that hard work and effort into action, and it should be fun to watch.    THEMAT.COM RANKINGS FOR APRIL 2004  66 KG/145.5 LBS. IN MEN'S GRECO-ROMAN  1. Kevin Bracken, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  2. Faruk Sahin, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  3. James Shillow, Stafford, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)  4. Marcel Cooper, Stafford, Va. (U.S. Marine Corps)  5. Mike Ellsworth, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Michigan WC)  6. Mark Rial, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Gator WC)  7. Harry Lester, Akron, Ohio (USOEC/Sunkist Kids)  8. Oscar Wood, Fort Carson, Colo. (U.S. Army)  9. Brandon McNab, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)  10. Glenn Garrison, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)    ATHLETES ALREADY QUALIFIED FOR THE OLYMPIC TEAM TRIALS   Armed Forces Champion  - James Shillow, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines)  West Regional Trials Champion - James Johnson, Colorado Springs, Colo. (U.S. Army)  North Regional Trials Champion -Kelly Pederson, Quantico, Va. (U.S. Marines)   Central Regional Trials Champion -Brandon McNab, Colorado Springs, Colo. (New York AC)