Family, ex-team scenarios play out
Mark Perry will make first trip home to Stillwater in a Hawkeye singlet.
By DAN McCOOL
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
January 16, 2005
Today’s dual wrestling meet between Iowa and top-ranked Oklahoma State features a pair of unlikely story lines.
Iowa 165-pounder Mark Perry – nephew of Oklahoma State coach John Smith – likely will be the only Stillwater native in Gallagher-Iba Arena wearing black and gold.
Meanwhile, Oklahoma State heavyweight Steve Mocco faces his former squad in a dual-meet setting for the first time since transferring from Iowa last summer.
Perry attended every home Cowboys dual – and several road contests – when he was growing up in Oklahoma, where his uncles Lee Roy, John and Pat won a combined seven NCAA championships. Mark Perry eventually enrolled at Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J., for his final three years of high school, then decided to wrestle at Iowa.
“I’m sure there will be some booing and name-calling, but it’s always like that with OSU and Iowa, “said Perry, who grew up 4 miles from the Oklahoma State campus. “Win . . . and I’ll shut them up.”
Today’s meet will be Perry’s first trip home in an Iowa singlet. One of his uncles said seeing one of his kin in Hawkeye colors will take some adjustment.
“I haven’t visualized that, but now that you mention it, it might be a unique experience to say the least, “said Lee Roy Smith, executive director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame, which is located near Gallagher-Iba Arena.
“Most people would be real nervous going in there, but I’m about as relaxed as I could be, “said Perry, who hopes to avenge his only loss in 14 matches this season – a 7-5 overtime decision against Oklahoma State’s Johny Hendricks in November.
Mocco is one of four Oklahoma State wrestlers ranked No. 1 by InterMat. The Cowboys are 7-0 in duals and trying for their fourth consecutive victory over Iowa.
Mocco, who faces freshman Matt Fields for the second time this season, transferred to Oklahoma State after failing to make the U.S. freestyle wrestling team for the Summer Olympics in Athens. He was a national champion for Iowa in 2003.
Iowa (5-1) lost to Oklahoma State, 30-10, last season in Iowa City – the Hawkeyes’ worst loss in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
“The team we had last year didn’t compete, and Oklahoma State got on a roll, “Iowa coach Jim Zalesky said. “We didn’t have anyone step up and stop it. When you get in a big meet, you’ve got to have a strong enough individual to stop the momentum.”
Perry said a positive mind-set is key to pulling off an upset.
“I’m not worried about him being ready, I’m worried about him being too hyped up where he doesn’t wrestle his best match, “Zalesky said.
Correction: An article about Steve Mocco in Saturday’s sports section had the incorrect date for the Iowa-Oklahoma State wrestling meet. The meet is today at 1:30 p.m. in Stillwater.
Wrestling Gear
