Oklahoma State University Athletics
Mocco Wins Hodge Trophy
March 29, 2005 | Cowboy Wrestling
Mocco was a perfect 37-0 this season with 17 pins and three tech. falls. Mocco won the award over West Virginia's Greg Jones who was named Outstanding Wrestler at the NCAA Tournament.
Mocco was high on all the selection criteria, which included record, number of pins, dominance on the mat, past credentials, quality of competition, sportsmanship/citizenship and heart.
Mocco is the first OSU wrestler in the 11-year history of the award to be bestowed with the prestigious honor.
“It is really a great honor to receive this award,” Mocco said. “I grew up hearing stories, almost fairy tales about Dan Hodge.”
Mocco's quest for perfection is what keeps him training as hard as he does. He said after he won his title at heavyweight that he was not satisfied with OSU having five champions, and he will not be satisfied unless they had ten champions who were unscored upon.
Thirteen of his 17 pins this season came in under 90 seconds, while 16 of them came in the first period. Mocco wishes to pin every opponent he faces and will not be satisfied until then.
“There is always room for improvement, but you want to strive for perfection,” Mocco said. “For me, it helps me to train harder. When you start getting satisfied it will affect you in the room. I like to stay hungry. I get jacked up before a match and my goal is to get a pin. There is nothing more dominant than when you see someone get a pin.”
Mocco can be seen in the wrestling room seconds after a pin, working out and trying to get better for the next time he takes the mat. Of his 37 wins, Mocco was not satisfied with any of them.
The Hodge trophy will be given to Mocco at OSU's wrestling banquet on April 7 at Gallagher-Iba Arena, and it will be presented publicly to Mocco during one of OSU's home football games.
Past Hodge Trophy Winners
2005- Steve Mocco, Oklahoma State
2004- Emmitt Wilson, Montana State-Northern
2003- Eric Larkin, Arizona State
2002- Cael Sanderson, Iowa State
2001- Cael Sanderson, Iowa State and Nick Ackerman, Simpson College
2000- Cael Sanderson, Iowa State
1999- Stephen Neal, Cal State-Bakersfield
1998- Mark Ironside, Iowa
1997- Kerry McCoy, Penn State
1996- Les Gutches, Oregon State
1995- TJ Jaworsky, North Carolina
