INDIANAPOLIS -- Former James Logan High star Stephen Abas and former Saratoga and Stanford standout Patricia Miranda earned slots on the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Team at the Trials this past weekend.

Abas defeated 2000 Olympian Sammie Henson twice Sunday by scores of 5-3 and 3-1 in the best-of-three finals. Meanwhile, Miranda followed the Abas match on the Ring 2 championship mat with 6-3 and 10-0 wins over Clarissa Chun. The Saratoga native now becomes a member of the first-ever Olympic women's team.

"(My) First thought was step one," Miranda said of her win. "(I also felt) Happiness for winning the tournament, but now I have been given a large responsibility and I want to carry the weight and represent my country the best I can."

Earlier this year, USA Wrestling named Miranda the 2003 Women's Wrestler of the Year. It was just one of her many awards.

She won yet another national title and headed into the Olympic Trials as the top-ranked competitor in the 48 kg/105.5 lbs weight class. She also won a silver medal at the 2003 World Championships of Freestyle Wrestling in New York.

But being an Olympian has yet to sink in.

"Growing up, thinking about being on an Olympic Team was not something I thought of," Miranda said. "It was not in the realm of possibility. I have had many painful moments thinking about this just recently."

"In college, all I wanted to do was beat a guy. Now, at the Olympic level, it is different. I feel pleased to have this opportunity. I'm trying to conclude a lifetime of waiting."

Patricia's father, sister, brother-in-law and two brothers were in the stands in Indianapolis, wearing white T-shirts with red letters spelling out "T-R-U-X-A," which is Portuguese for Tricia, her nickname.

Jose Miranda, of Saratoga, admits he doesn't understand how the game is scored, but knows his daughter has to beat the other girl.

"We're all so proud of her," he said. "Whatever she's done, she did completely on her own. There are no athletes in this family, and I certainly tried to stop her."

Jose, a Portuguese immigrant, told a younger Patricia he'd let her wrestle only if she maintained a 4.0 grade point average.

Patricia Miranda attended Stanford University, where she became the first woman to join the wrestling team. She trained for five years and was able to graduate with honors. She postponed an acceptance to Yale Law School for the Olympics.

"She kept her end of the bargain," Jose said.

Now he's planning to buy a ticket to see his daughter compete in Athens, where she will face the woman who swiped the gold medal from her at the World Championships last year, Irini Merleni of the Ukraine.

Abas, too, struggled Sunday with the meaning and emotion of his victory.

"This is the only thing I’ve worked for," the 27-year-old said. "It's a dream come true. I am going for the gold now. I'm focusing on the medal."