Abas, Hunter lead parity packed 125-pound class

Editor's note: This is the first in a 10-part series previewing the 10 weight classes for the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships beginning Thursday in The Bryce Jordan Center. This story previews the 125-pound class.

By CHRIS ANTONACCI
Collegian Staff Writer

Teams from all across the nation will converge Thursday upon The Bryce Jordan Center.

The lightest of the 10 weight classes should be a fierce battle right to the end.

In one of the deepest brackets in the NCAA Div. I Wrestling Championships, anything can happen. Nonetheless, there are a few leaders of the 125-pound pack.

From Fresno State, No. 1 Stephen Abas is favored to win the national championship. This season he posted a near-perfect 33-1 mark, qualifying with a first-place finish in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.

Last year, as a freshman, Abas finished fourth in the 118-pound bracket.

"125 is an extremely tough weight class," Clarion assistant coach Tony Purler said. "Anyone could win it, but Abas is a very, very talented individual."

No kidding.

Abas' only loss came at the hands of two-time national champion Eric Guerrero, the No. 1 place-holder at 133 pounds, by a count of 5-3.

But another viable contender for the individual trophy is Penn State's Jeremy Hunter, who will enjoy the home-mat advantage throughout the tournament and should benefit from the hometown crowd.

Hunter, ranked No. 2, has posted a 29-0 record and is coming off his Big Ten Championship run last weekend in Michigan.

"Hunter's got a lot of national-level experience -- there's a lot to be said for that," Pennsylvania coach Roger Reina said. "But Abas has a lot of natural talent."

Also rounding out the weight class is the incumbent, No. 3 Teague Moore of Oklahoma State, the No. 1 team in the nation. Moore is a senior with a 22-3 record.

But throwing his hat into the ring will be Moore's cross-state foe, No. 4 Sooner Shane Valdez.

"We are really excited about Shane's prospects," Oklahoma coach Jack Spates said. "He's worked really hard, he's really focused."

The Big 12 also sends a strong contender in Nebraska's Paul Gomez, who Hunter decisioned 4-3 in the No. 10 Nittany Lions' first dual meet.

One wrestler of note who did not qualify at 125 is No. 7 Wolverine Chris Viola, who gave Hunter one of his toughest matches of the season in Penn State's dual meet with Michigan. Viola was edged by Hunter with a slim 6-5 defeat, but was eliminated in the Big Ten Championships, finishing below the required seventh-place.

"I was immensely surprised," Michigan coach Dale Bahr said. "He didn't wrestle well at Big Tens. Unfortunately, he had his worst weekend of the season when he needed it most."

Darkhorse candidates to win the title are North Carolina's Chuckie Connor and Big Ten freshmen LeRoy Vega (Minnesota), Jason Silverstein (Purdue), Chris Williams (Michigan State) and Kevin Black (Wisconsin). From the West Coast, Arizona State's Matt Azevedo and Bakerfield's Moses Delfin will be in the hunt to place.