Fresno State Athletics
Four Wrestlers Still Alive after Day One of NCAA Championships
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
March 18, 1999
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After one day of competition, four of the five Bulldogs who traveled to University Park, Pa., for the 1999 NCAA Wrestling Championships are still in action at the national tournament taking place at Penn State. Top-ranked Stephen Abas (Hayward, Calif.) and ninth-ranked Stan Greene (Clovis, Calif.), last years fourth-place finishers at the tourney, both advanced in the championship bracket with two wins today. Senior Demetrist Huff (Upland, Calif.) and junior Paris Ruiz (Fresno, Calfi.) each won their first match and lost their second forcing them into the consolation bracket. And sophomore Matt Demers (Modesto, Calif.) lost both of his matches today as he was eliminated from his first-ever NCAA Championships.
Stephen Abas, 125: Top-ranked Stephen Abas, the No. 1 seed at 125, improved his overall record to 34-1 after defeating Tom Combes of Eastern Illinois, 11-1, in the first round and 14th-ranked Matt Azevedo of Arizona State for the fourth time this year, 10-4, in the second round of todays action. Abas will take on Virginias Matt Roth, the No. 8 seed, tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. PST. Abas defeated Roth earlier this season by a score of 7-5 at the Las Vegas Invitational in December. (See page two for Abas quotes on todays competition)
Stan Greene, 133: Ninth-ranked Stan Greene also went 2-0 today in the 133 pound bracket. He defeated Minnesotas Bart Golyer, 10-6, in todays first round and delivered No. 5-seed Joe Warren of Michigan his first loss of the tournament with an 8-5 decision over sixth-ranked Warren. Greene will face the No. 4 seed, Pat McNamara of Michigan State tomorrow at 8 a.m. PST.
Paris Ruiz, 141: Junior Paris Ruiz won his first match, 5-3, over Oklahoma States Charles Walker in a sudden death victory at 141 pounds. Ruiz was then pinned by Central Michigans Chris Marshall in 2:59. Ruiz will wrestle in tomorrows consolation bracket against No. 12 seed Mark Perryman of Arizona State. Perryman defeated Ruiz earlier in the year by a score of 15-6.
Matt Demers, 165: Sophomore Matt Demers was eliminated today after he suffered losses to Bucknells Brian Pitzer by way of a pin in 2:34 and to Central Michigans Chris Snyder, 8-3.
Demetrist Huff, 197: Ranked No. 12 in the nation, senior Demetrist Huff won his first match, 5-3, over Pittsburghs Dan Stein. He then fell to the No. 5 seed, Chris Vike of Central Michigan, 12-3 in round two of todays competition. Huff will take one American Universitys Josh Schroeder tomorrow morning.
Competition resumes tomorrow and will end on Saturday, March 20.
