Loss in NCAAs drives Abas

November 30, 1993
Originally published by The Daily Collegian (Fresno State)

Two points is all that separated Fresno State wrestler Gerry Abas from the 1993 NCAA 142-pound individual championship.

That heartbreaking 16-15 loss to Iowa's Lincoln McLlravy is that drives Abas in his quest to realize his dream and be a champion.

"There's no other place to go, other than winning the championship," Abas said.

"My goal is always to do better the next year than you did the last. Since I've strived to do that every year I've been in this sport, I have a pretty high goal to set."

Abas, a two-time All-American, has met his share of goals since coming to FSU from Oakland Technical High. He red-shirted in 1990, but has come on to win 77 of 90 Bulldog matches, place third in the WAC and win a WAC championship.

In two years, he has edged closer to his ultimate goal: a national title. Two years ago, he finished sixth at the NCAA championships and last year only the final loss separated him from his dream.

Because of his drive to succeed Abas will provide experience and leadership to a young FSU squad this season. Abas was named the 2nd-ranked 142-pounder in the nation by the Amateur Wrestling News.

"My first two years, I wanted to be an All-American, and I made that," Abas said. "Now my goals are harder, but higher to set."

"Anything less than a championship would definitely be a letdown of personal goals I've set all my life. Not that it would be devastating, but as an athlete, that's what I've strived for."

He has two more years in his Bulldog career, so Abas knows the clock isn't ticking on him--yet.

"You can't do better than placing four times in the national tournament, other than winning it. Now that I've been there, I know what it takes to win it, but knowing it and doing it are two different things."

He wants nothing better than to put his dreams and goals on the line in the championship match again against someone with a vision just like him.

"A lot of dreams and goals get smashed there," he said of the national tournament.

Abas has taken these approaches and combined it into a grueling training regiment that stresses attention to details and conditioning.

That hasn't gone unnoticed with coach Dennis DeLiddo, who regards Abas as one who will provide tremendous leadership, poise and maturity for this year's youth-dominated Bulldog team.

"That loss in the finals put him on his way because now he's working more on the little things it'll take to be the best," DeLiddo said. "He's always gone hard in every practice, but now he knows he has to be in better shape if he wants to win the national title." According to DeLiddo, there has already been a difference in Abas' outlook this year compared to last.

"His leadership is an important part of his performance for the team," DeLiddo said. "The guys will listen to him when he says something. He is also a totally dedicated team person, really into seeing the whole team do well, not just himself."

But Abas won't kid himself when he gets onto the mat. He says that while he has established himself as one of the premier wrestlers in the nation, he still has his individual goals to meet.

Abas, though, is a team player and does what he can by showing intensity on the bench shouting encouragement to teammates.

"Wrestling is an individual sport; there's only so much you can do teamwise. When it's time to play the game, you're the only one out there. During practice I try to make my teammates better by giving them a solid opponent."

But Abas doesn't seem to need extra intensity in his own matches. His best asset is his quickness, technique and strategy rather than punishing people by brute physical strength.

"People who watch me only see my flexibility and athleticism, but the way I win is by outthinking someone. Eighty to ninety percent of this sport is mental."

One reason Abas is able to make good strategy decisions on the mat is his ability to withstand pressure. He has a simple philosophy: have fun with the sport.

"I let pressure take care of itself. When a guy steps in front of me he knows he's wrestling the NCAA runner-up, I don't have to say anything," he says.

"You can either put pressure on yourself or let it be there. I think if you get emotional before a match you'll end up psyching yourself out rather than intimidating anyone on the collegiate level."

Following that formula for success has made Abas a wrestler that other Bulldogs respect. The role of team leader has not come easy to the soft-spoken Abas, but he'll take it.