Oklahoma State University Athletics
No. 1 Cowboys to Tangle with No. 7 Hawkeyes
January 06, 2006 | Cowboy Wrestling
Oklahoma State will renew its fabled rivalry with Iowa on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It will be Steve Mocco's first match in Iowa City since his transfer two years ago. Brandon Mason will also return to Iowa to wrestle for the first time since coming to Oklahoma State out of high school. The Cowboys own the all-time series edge with the Hawkeyes at 21-16-1. OSU has one the last five meetings in the series in a battle of two of the most storied sports programs in NCAA history, regardless of sport. The two teams have combined to win 53 of the 75 NCAA championships, OSU has 33 championships and Iowa has 20 titles. The Cowboys won the only meeting in Stillwater last season by a 26-12 score. This is the only scheduled meeting between the two schools this season, but botth teams will be headed to Cedar Falls, Iowa to take part in the NWCA National Duals where they could run into each other again.
Scouting the Hawkeyes
Iowa is 3-0 in the early part of the season with victories over Arizona State, Iowa State and Northern Iowa. The Hawkeyes recently took fourth-place at the Midlands Championships in Evanston, Ill. Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State all finished ahead of Iowa in the tournament. Iowa has a lineup that is top heavy with four wrestlers ranked in the top three of their respective weight classes. Iowa is led by Paul Bradley who is currently ranked No. 1 at 184. Bradley is only 2-0 in official matches this season. Ty Eustice, Joe Johnston and Stillwater native Mark Perry are all ranked third at 149, 157 and 174, respectively. Outside of Iowa's big four it has Alex Tsirtsis who is ranked No. 17 at 141 and Matt Fields who is the seventh-ranked heavyweight in the country. For Iowa to have a chance at knocking off the Cowboys, it will have to get a few upsets. OSU boasts nine ranked wrestlers with eight of them being ranked in the top 10 at their weight classes. The Hawkeyes have inexperience at their remaining weight classes at 125, 133, 165 and 197. How these wrestlers fare could decide the dual for the Hawkeyes.
Mocco Returns to Iowa
The most talked about event of the night will be at heavyweight. Steve Mocco went 71-3 and won an NCAA title for the Hawkeyes in two years. After taking an Olympic redshirt year, Mocco transferred to Oklahoma State where he is 47-0, won the Dan Hodge Trophy, won an NCAA title and was nominated for an ESPY Award for the nation's Top Collegiate Athlete. The senior will be seeking his third career NCAA title in March.
Mocco Racks up Falls
Cowboy heavyweight Steve Mocco continues to dominate his opponents. After winning the Dan Hodge Trophy his junior because he recorded 17 falls and three technical falls in an undefeated season, Mocco is making a bid for the trophy again. In 10 matches this season, Mocco has recorded eight falls and one technical fall. He has only wrestled the full seven minutes once this season and that was a 5-3 decision over fourth-ranked Cain Velasquez of Arizona State in the finals of the Reno Tournament of Champions. Mocco pinned fifth-ranked Jake Hager in 3:41. His latest outing saw him record two pins with one coming in 16 seconds over Northern Iowa's Tyler Rhodes. That was not his fastest pin at OSU, however, he pinned Tennessee-Chattanooga's Diaz Edwards in 14 seconds in his first match at Oklahoma State.
Blackmon takes hold of 184
Rusty Blackmon has taken control of the 184-pound position. This weight class was the biggest question mark coming into the season, but the senior out of Cleveland, Tenn. has made the most of his opportunity. Blackmon has received the nod in four of OSU's five duals and is 3-1 in those duals. Blackmon has had to fight off three other Cowboys who would all like a chance to start for the national champion Cowboys. Blackmon's recent success came in the double dual against Army and Northern Iowa that saw him record a major decision and a fall in 31 seconds. Blackmon is now 14-5 on the season.
John Smith Nearing Chesbro's Mark
Head coach John Smith is approaching Tommy Chesbro's school record for career wins. Smith entered the season with 220 career wins, needing seven to tie Chesbro's mark. After starting the season 5-0, Smith is two wins away from equaling Chesbro. If the Cowboys remain undefeated, Smith would tie the mark anad pass it at National Duals Jan. 14-15.
