Steve Mocco

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Steve Mocco (born December 28, 1981) is an American amateur wrestler. 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, three of which were at wrestling powerhouse Blair Academy in Blairstown Township, New Jersey.^[1] 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.

Mocco may currently be the most 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 by many as a dagger in the back. 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 is also hounded by those who claim that he only has one move- the foot sweep- and that he will lose to anyone who can counter that. The fact that he won the 2005 NCAA title in overtime with a foot sweep has been interpreted by his critics as a sign of weakness and by his supporters as a fact that, even when his opponent knows what's coming, Mocco's strength, speed and abilities will overcome that.

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 of 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 of 2007, Mocco made a return to freestyle wrestling. Mocco recently finished second to Tommy Rowlands in the 2007 U.S. World Team Trials. This marks the third straight year in which Mocco has finished as the runner-up in this event with his two previous losses coming at the hands of Tolly Thompson.

Some say Mocco has lost the competitive fire that made him the most feared wrestler in the junior ranks. Others blame Mocco's lack of recent success to his ongoing use of techniques from his junior days, thus allowing competition to easily scout and predict his attacks.

Mocco grew up in North Bergen, New Jersey.^[2]

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