SUPER POWER SECRETS
Perry and Mocco have unique insights on two of wrestling's fabled college programs
Beyond the obvious, beneath the perception and behind the scenes, the distinctions between the two most decorated programs in college wrestling are still there, but they’re becoming perhaps less transparent to the trained observer.
Iowa and Oklahoma State have monopolized the sport, collecting 52 of the 74 NCAA team titles. Together, they’ve won all but five of the national championships awarded since 1975.
But the titles and trophies are see
mingly only a couple of the things they’ve done mutually. Or so it seems.“I think there’s a lot in common,” former Iowa coach Dan Gable said. “Why? They’re both powerful wrestling institutions. That’s simple. How they get to that powerful status doesn’t matter. Whether somebody has a certain style compared to another style, it’s just a matter of who’s on top at the time that gets the credit for being the successful style.”
For years, the Hawkeyes and Cowboys were viewed as possessing starkly different wrestling methods with Iowa known for its brawling and Oklahoma State recognized for its technical-based philosophy.
“I don’t believe that there’s that much difference,” Oklahoma State coach John Smith said. “We hope our athletes go out and are aggressive on the mat and score and keep scoring. I don’t think that attitude has changed in either program. There’s probably a little more similarity than what you think.
“With every program, not just Oklahoma State and Iowa, there’s probably a little difference in the style of wrestling and that can be over-exaggerated, too. Our style, and I’m sure (Iowa) coach (Jim) Zalesky’s is, too, is getting the job done and winning, no matter what you do.”
Some would claim that the approaches have evolved in recent years, perhaps due to recruiting. In Oklahoma State’s dual victory against Iowa, Jan. 16, at least seven of the 20 wrestlers who took the mat were recruited by both schools.
As he watched the videotape of the dual meet, Gable noticed a difference in the Oklahoma State program now opposed to the one he coached against.
“I think John Smith has made progression in letting his athletes do what they can do best, yet he’s giving them some very valuable skills that are very similar to a certain style you can label on them,” Gable said. “Seven of the 10 wrestlers on his starting line-up all had the same stance, all had the same defense on their feet, all had pretty much the same offense.“What’s unique was that there were some unique traits about what they did individually. I think before they probably wouldn’t have been as noticeable because they probably would’ve (coached): Here’s how it’s gotta be and you should be doing this, when in reality if a kid can do something and do it well you’ve got to keep it in there.”
Iowa’s Mark Perry Jr. and Oklahoma State’s Steve Mocco share a unique perspective on the series, gaining an outlook on the insides of both programs.
Perry, a 165-pound freshman, grew up around the Cowboy program as the son of a two-time All-American for Oklahoma State and Smith’s nephew. He left Stillwater after his freshman year in high school to attend Blair (N.J.) Academy, where he and Mocco were teammates.
Mocco signed with Iowa in 2001 and Perry passed up the opportunity to wrestle for his uncle and joined Mocco in Iowa City two years later.
After watching the Cowboys win the past two NCAA titles and maintain the No. 1 ranking this season, Perry sees a difference in Stillwater.
“I don’t know if they’re willing to admit it, but they’ve changed and they’ve taken some things from Iowa and Minnesota in the past five years,” Perry said, pointing to Oklahoma State’s improved conditioning as one illustration.
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