Steve Mocco
Encyclopedia
Steve Mocco is an American amateur wrestler
originally from North Bergen, New Jersey
. Starting his collegiate wrestling
career at the University of Iowa
, Mocco was the 285-pound NCAA Division I runner-up in 2002 and champion in 2003. After taking an Olympic redshirt year, Mocco transferred to Oklahoma State University
to wrestle for coach John Smith
. In his first year at OSU, Mocco won the 285 title in 2005 without losing a match.
In high school, Mocco was one of the most dominant heavyweights in recent history. He won four NJ prep state titles and four prep national titles, two of which were at wrestling powerhouse Blair Academy
in Blairstown Township
, New Jersey
. He also won three Junior National titles in wrestling and one in judo
. Mocco also won two Beast of the East
championships. Mocco swept the "Big Four" of national high school wrestling awards as he was named the 2001 ASICS
Tiger High School Wrestler of the year, the 2001 Junior Hodge Trophy winner, NHSCA National High School Wrestler of the Year, and was awarded the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. He was one of the most sought-after recruits in history and signed on to wrestle for coach Jim Zalesky
and the Iowa Hawkeyes
.
For a time, Mocco was a controversial figure in American college wrestling. After he first announced that he wanted to leave Iowa, there was rampant speculation that he would transfer to Lehigh University
; his decision to go to Oklahoma State was seen as controversial. Oklahoma State and Iowa are the two most successful programs in college wrestling history and are bitter rivals. After announcing that he would transfer to Oklahoma State, Mocco became an instant figure of derision in Iowa. He won the 2005 NCAA title in overtime with a foot sweep has been interpreted by his critics as a sign of his strength, speed and abilities. He is known for his "foot sweep" maneuver.
In 2005, Mocco was awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy
, as the best collegiate wrestler.
On January 15, 2006, Mocco was pinned by Cole Konrad
of the University of Minnesota in the finals of the National Duals. This loss, the first pin of Mocco's collegiate career, ended an 85-match win streak. Mocco also lost to Konrad in November 2005, but that match (at the NCWA All-Star Meet) was considered an exhibition. He lost again to Konrad on March 18, 2006, in the 2006 NCAA title match.
In August 2006, with one year of college eligibility left, Mocco joined the Oklahoma State football
team. Listed as a senior defensive lineman, he played in five games for the Cowboys and was credited with two total tackles, one solo, according to the university's athletic web site.
In February 2007, Mocco made a return to freestyle wrestling. Mocco finished second to Tommy Rowlands
in the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials. This marked the third straight year in which Mocco finished as the runner-up in this event, with his two previous losses coming at the hands of Tolly Thompson.
Mocco's 2009 season started off with first-place finishes in two major Russian
tournaments, the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Golden Grand Prix and the Alexander Medved Invitational.
In April 2009, he won his first Senior National title in freestyle at 120 kg. A few weeks later at the Pan American Championships, Mocco also won gold by pinning Canada's Michael Neufeld in the finals.
Mocco currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach with the Lehigh University
wrestling program. http://www.lehighsports.com/sports/wrestling/coach/bio.aspx?CoachId=534
On June 15, 2008, Mocco defeated one of his college rivals, Tommy Rowlands, in a best-of-three series at the U.S. Olympic Trials to make the Olympic team. Rowlands had defeated Mocco a few weeks earlier in the finals of the U.S. Nationals.
Wrestling at the 120kg weight class, Mocco first wrestled India's Rajiv Tomar
in the round of 16. Winning the match 1-0 3-0, Mocco advanced to the round of eight and faced China's Liang Lei. Winning that match 1-0 3-0, Mocco advanced to the quarterfinal round and faced Russia's Bakhtiyar Akhmedov
. Losing the match 1-0, 0-1, 0-2; Mocco would advance to the repechage
round due to the Russian's semifinal victory. Competing in the second repechage, Mocco faced Iran's Fardin Masoumi. Losing the match 1-3 1-4 Mocco was eliminated from competing for the bronze medal.
Amateur wrestling
Amateur wrestling is the most widespread form of sport wrestling. There are two international wrestling styles performed in the Olympic Games under the supervision of FILA : Greco-Roman and freestyle. Freestyle is possibly derived from the English Lancashire style...
originally from North Bergen, New Jersey
North Bergen, New Jersey
North Bergen is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township had a total population of 60,773. Originally founded in 1843, the town was much diminished in territory by a series of secessions. Situated on the Hudson Palisades, it is one...
. Starting his collegiate wrestling
Collegiate wrestling
Collegiate wrestling, sometimes known in the United States as Folkstyle wrestling, is a style of amateur wrestling practised at the collegiate and university level in the United States. Collegiate wrestling emerged from the folk wrestling styles practised in the early history of the United States...
career at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, Mocco was the 285-pound NCAA Division I runner-up in 2002 and champion in 2003. After taking an Olympic redshirt year, Mocco transferred to Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling
The Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team is a NCAA Division I wrestling program and is one of five Big 12 Conference schools which participate in wrestling. Since the team's first season in 1914-15, it has won thirty-four team national championships , 133 individual NCAA championships, and 213...
to wrestle for coach John Smith
John Smith (wrestler)
John William Smith is a successful college wrestler, 6-time World Champion, 2-time Olympic Games champion, and is currently the head coach of wrestling at Oklahoma State University.-High school career:...
. In his first year at OSU, Mocco won the 285 title in 2005 without losing a match.
In high school, Mocco was one of the most dominant heavyweights in recent history. He won four NJ prep state titles and four prep national titles, two of which were at wrestling powerhouse Blair Academy
Blair Academy
Blair Academy is a private, coeducational, secondary boarding high school with an enrollment of about 448 students for grades nine through twelve. The school has 78 faculty members...
in Blairstown Township
Blairstown Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 5,747 people, 2,040 households, and 1,638 families residing in the township. The population density was 185.3 people per square mile . There were 2,136 housing units at an average density of 68.9 per square mile...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He also won three Junior National titles in wrestling and one in judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
. Mocco also won two Beast of the East
Beast of the East
The Beast of the East is the largest college rugby tournament in the world. In 2010, the 27th annual tournament, 84 college rugby teams participated in five divisions. The tournament is hosted by Providence Rugby Football Club on six rugby fields at The Glen in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.- Past...
championships. Mocco swept the "Big Four" of national high school wrestling awards as he was named the 2001 ASICS
ASICS
ASICS is a Japanese athletic equipment company. ASICS produces professional footwear and sports equipment designed for football, running, netball, tennis, badminton, squash, martial arts, cricket, golf, wrestling, track & field, cross-training, volleyball, cheerleading, lacrosse, and for many other...
Tiger High School Wrestler of the year, the 2001 Junior Hodge Trophy winner, NHSCA National High School Wrestler of the Year, and was awarded the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award. He was one of the most sought-after recruits in history and signed on to wrestle for coach Jim Zalesky
Jim Zalesky
Jim Zalesky is the head wrestling coach for the Oregon State Beavers and a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Prior to joining the Beavers, he was the coach of the University of Iowa wrestling team from 1998-2006. At Iowa, he succeeded Dan Gable as head coach, under whom he was a...
and the Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling
The University of Iowa wrestling program is one of the most successful athletic programs in NCAA Division I. The University of Iowa Hawkeyes are a member of the Big Ten Athletic Conference. Iowa is second in NCAA history with 23 national championships, all of which have come since 1975...
.
For a time, Mocco was a controversial figure in American college wrestling. After he first announced that he wanted to leave Iowa, there was rampant speculation that he would transfer to Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
; his decision to go to Oklahoma State was seen as controversial. Oklahoma State and Iowa are the two most successful programs in college wrestling history and are bitter rivals. After announcing that he would transfer to Oklahoma State, Mocco became an instant figure of derision in Iowa. He won the 2005 NCAA title in overtime with a foot sweep has been interpreted by his critics as a sign of his strength, speed and abilities. He is known for his "foot sweep" maneuver.
In 2005, Mocco was awarded the Dan Hodge Trophy
Dan Hodge Trophy
The Dan Hodge Trophy is awarded to the outstanding college wrestler of the year. The trophy is given each season to the nation's best college wrestler by W.I.N. Magazine and Culture House. It is the wrestling equivalent to the Heisman Trophy...
, as the best collegiate wrestler.
On January 15, 2006, Mocco was pinned by Cole Konrad
Cole Konrad
Cole Konrad is an American mixed martial arts fighter. He is currently a student at the University of Minnesota and former wrestler for the Golden Gophers. Konrad won a gold medal at the 2005 Pan-American Championships...
of the University of Minnesota in the finals of the National Duals. This loss, the first pin of Mocco's collegiate career, ended an 85-match win streak. Mocco also lost to Konrad in November 2005, but that match (at the NCWA All-Star Meet) was considered an exhibition. He lost again to Konrad on March 18, 2006, in the 2006 NCAA title match.
In August 2006, with one year of college eligibility left, Mocco joined the Oklahoma State football
Oklahoma State Cowboys football
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
team. Listed as a senior defensive lineman, he played in five games for the Cowboys and was credited with two total tackles, one solo, according to the university's athletic web site.
In February 2007, Mocco made a return to freestyle wrestling. Mocco finished second to Tommy Rowlands
Tommy Rowlands
Tommy Rowlands was a two-time NCAA wrestling champion.Rowlands grew up less than 15 miles from the Ohio State campus. His wrestling career began when his father introduced him to Louisiana State University All American Wrestler Jim Edwards at a church function...
in the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials. This marked the third straight year in which Mocco finished as the runner-up in this event, with his two previous losses coming at the hands of Tolly Thompson.
Mocco's 2009 season started off with first-place finishes in two major Russian
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
tournaments, the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Golden Grand Prix and the Alexander Medved Invitational.
In April 2009, he won his first Senior National title in freestyle at 120 kg. A few weeks later at the Pan American Championships, Mocco also won gold by pinning Canada's Michael Neufeld in the finals.
Mocco currently serves as a volunteer assistant coach with the Lehigh University
Lehigh University
Lehigh University is a private, co-educational university located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the United States. It was established in 1865 by Asa Packer as a four-year technical school, but has grown to include studies in a wide variety of disciplines...
wrestling program. http://www.lehighsports.com/sports/wrestling/coach/bio.aspx?CoachId=534
2008 Olympics
For more information see Wrestling at the 2008 Summer OlympicsWrestling at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Wrestling competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, were held at the China Agricultural University Gymnasium from August 12–21, 2008. It was split into two disciplines, Freestyle and Greco-Roman which are further divided into different weight categories...
On June 15, 2008, Mocco defeated one of his college rivals, Tommy Rowlands, in a best-of-three series at the U.S. Olympic Trials to make the Olympic team. Rowlands had defeated Mocco a few weeks earlier in the finals of the U.S. Nationals.
Wrestling at the 120kg weight class, Mocco first wrestled India's Rajiv Tomar
Rajiv Tomar
Rajiv Tomar is an Indian wrestler. He represented India in the men's freestyle 120 kg category at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but lost to Steve Mocco of United States in qualifications.He is from Malakpur in Baraut district in Uttar Pradesh....
in the round of 16. Winning the match 1-0 3-0, Mocco advanced to the round of eight and faced China's Liang Lei. Winning that match 1-0 3-0, Mocco advanced to the quarterfinal round and faced Russia's Bakhtiyar Akhmedov
Bakhtiyar Akhmedov
Bakhtiyar Akhmedov is a wrestler of Kumykian origin, representing the Russian Federation, and who has won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:*...
. Losing the match 1-0, 0-1, 0-2; Mocco would advance to the repechage
Repechage
Repechage is a practice amongst ladder competitions that allows participants that failed to meet qualifying standards by a small margin to continue to the next round.- Types of repechage :...
round due to the Russian's semifinal victory. Competing in the second repechage, Mocco faced Iran's Fardin Masoumi. Losing the match 1-3 1-4 Mocco was eliminated from competing for the bronze medal.