Fresno State Athletics
Stephen Abas Commands a Victory in Olympic Debut
8/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Aug. 27, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - Call it adrenaline or tab it as an Olympic debut or even sweet revenge but whatever three-time NCAA champion and Bulldog All-American Stephen Abas drew upon was more than successful as he defeated 2003 World silver medalist and Moldova's Ghenadie Tulbea, 6-1, in the 55 kg/121 lbs class to open his first Olympics. As the United States men's freestyle team swept through the opening day of Olympic competition at the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall in Athens, Abas did his part and did so quickly after scoring first period points and playing defense in the second half. Abas took quick command with a three point takedown. After turning Tulbea for two exposure points for a 5-0 lead in the first period, Abas also recorded a single take down for his final point in the second. Tulbea avoided a shutout after earning a point in the final minute of the match (fleeing mat and caution to Abas). The win over Tulbea avenged an earlier defeat for Abas. At the 2003 Worlds in New York, Tulbea captured a 10-8 win after Abas had a commanding 5-0 lead. Men's freestyle Olympic Games session 1 quotes
John Fuller/USA Wrestling 55 kg/121 lbs. - Stephen Abas, Fresno, Calif.
After you took the early lead, did you want to take control of the match?
"I think after that 30 seconds, I pretty much took charge of it already. I realized that I couldn't get out of hand and wrestle sloppy. I decided to go out, stay in good position and pick my shots as good as I can." Did you plan to start fast in this match?
"He just got off of a match maybe a half hour ago, so I knew he was going to be a little winded and I decided to go out there real hard and score fast." What did you do different in this match than your last one against him?
"I think more than anything, just keeping a level head and not letting the points scored determine how I wrestled. I got up on him 5-0 last time and he came back and scored on me."
