Fresno State Athletics
Stephen Abas Recalls Olympic Experience
8/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
Aug. 18, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - He is the most decorated wrestler in Fresno State history. Stephen Abas has been wrestling for over 23 years and in that time etched his way into Fresno State, NCAA and Olympic record books. Fresno State and www.gobulldogs.com continues its coverage of current and former Olympians by taking an in-depth look at Abas post-Olympics and post-Fresno State.
Abas became the first, and is still the only, three-time NCAA Champion in Fresno State history. He won NCAA wresting titles in 1999, 2001 and 2002 and placed fourth as a freshman in 1998. He took the 2000 season off to train for the Olympics but fell just short of making the team.
"In 2000, taking that year off from Fresno State and trying out for the Olympic team made me a better wrestler," Abas said. "It gave me the opportunity to focus on international wresting and freestyle. I was a match away from making that team but it really prepared me for 2004."
Losing only three matches his freshman year, Abas finished with a 38-3 overall record. He would then go on to lose one match his sophomore year (37-1) and go undefeated at 34-0 and 35-0 his junior and senior seasons. In four years, Abas had an overall record of 144-4.
"I had a lot of good guys around me at Fresno State that helped me wrestle hard and prepare," Abas added. "The team always pushed me and helped me stay physically fit. I also had a lot of support from the school and community and I'm really grateful for that."
He stuck with his Olympic training however, and it paid off as he won a silver medal in the 2004 Athens Games at the 121 lb. division.
"It was amazing," Abas added. "It was something I was striving for my whole career. I've been wresting for 23 years and to make the Olympic team was amazing. It all came together and I took second. Being on that stage and representing our country made me proud."
"It was a great experience for Stephen to be an Olympian," said former Fresno State wrestling coach Dennis DeLiddo. "He got beat in the finals but he got hurt in the first round and fought his way through for a silver medal. It was great for me to be able to coach him and help him prepare for that moment."
After the Athens Games, Abas stuck with Olympic training in preparation for the Beijing Olympics while volunteering as an assistant coach for four seasons at Fresno State.
In this year's U.S. trials, Abas fell just shy of making his second Olympic team. Abas then retired from the sport in July, but plans to continuing coaching and wants to make an impact on local youth wrestlers.
"I continue to train and I tried to make this team this year and just retired in July," said Abas. "I'm going to continue to work with wrestling in some way and plan to open a wrestling school in Fresno and share my knowledge of wresting with people in the valley."
When asked about this year's U.S. wrestling team, Abas said he knows a lot of the guys so he will try to watch as much as he can and he is excited for those who are getting the chance to experience something he will never forget.
"I think they (Team USA) have a couple of guys who are experienced and can do well," said Abas. "Daniel Cormier was on the Olympic Team with me in 2004 and has a great chance to medal and get gold. The rest of the team is young but if they can do well they can surprise a lot of people."
Wrestling began on Aug. 12 and runs to the 21st. Both men and women will compete in the Greco and Freestyle events. Men's freestyle, the event Abas competed in, runs Aug. 19-21.
"Join the State- Fresno State!" - For continuing coverage on Fresno State's impact on the 2008 Beijing Olympics, log on to www.gobulldogs.com.
