Ben Elder
Asst. Sports Editor
Oklahoma State junior heavyweight Steve Mocco has his brutality figured out to a science. With a personal vendetta for pinning his opponents and a love for the sport, it didn’t take a committee long to award the heavyweight the most prestigious award in college wrestling: the Dan Hodge Trophy.
“I love wrestling. You know? That’s why I do it,” Mocco said. “It’s big part of my life.”
Mocco posted a perfect 37-0 record this season en route to his second individual national championship.
“He is well deserving of it,” OSU head coach John Smith said. “He finished off winning his second national championship and that really stood him above the rest.”
Of the 37 wins that Mocco booked for the Cowboys, 17 were pins and three were tech falls. Mocco was the first OSU wrestler to win the prestigious award in 11 years.
“It was a great season,” Mocco said. “It’s big award and it’s a great honor to be chosen.”
Mocco’s training throughout the Cowboys’ championship season, Smith believes, is the reason why Mocco turns so many eyes on the mat.
“What I think what most people don’t understand is that his work ethic and commitment to excellence has put him in this position,” Smith said. “It’s not a natural thing that helps him become great, it’s his work ethic that has allowed him to be great.”
This same commitment to hard work was noticed by the selection committee and also across the wrestling room at Gallagher-Iba Arena.
National champion Zack Esposito attended the same high school as Mocco and has seen the heavyweight develop his dominance upon the world of college wrestling.
“It couldn’t have gone to a better athlete or better person than Steve,” Esposito said. “He deserves everything he has done, he deserves it all.
“He was this intense in high school, and I actually think he has become more intense. He just refuses to lose.”
Mocco’s staple at OSU has become dominance; the heavyweight is constantly training, before and after matches. Mocco said he exercises after the match in order to “push his body to the wall,” which allows him to train at a pace where his heart rate is peaking. This same training allows Mocco to exploit one of his favorite words ” winning.
“Winning”I love to win,,” Mocco said. “Winning is the best feeling in the world.”
Although Mocco won his second individual national championship this season, the junior is back in the room preparing for the U.S. Open and the World Trials. His goals of keeping his record perfect extend not only to the college level but to an international level as well.
“I think, obviously, he has a great drive to go to the next level,” Smith said. “I do believe he has that opportunity.”
Mocco’s personal goals do not fall short of Smith’s assumption.
“My goal is to dominate at the highest level,” Mocco explained.
Next season could be a true testament to Mocco’s legacy at OSU. Still, the meaning of perfection for junior heavyweight only goes as far as his last match.
“I think you are only as good as your last match,” Mocco said. “You have to prepare for each match individually and take it one match at a time.
You have to go out there and not look past anybody.”
Wrestling Gear
