April 12, 2004
LAS VEGAS, NV – University of Iowa sophomore Steve Mocco and six former Hawkeye wrestlers are still fighting for a spot on the 2004 U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team. All seven advanced to the 2004 U.S. Olympic Freestyle Team Trials, to be held May 21-23 in Indianapolis, IN, by placing in the top eight at their respective weight class at the 2004 U.S. National Freestyle Championships, held last weekend in Las Vegas, NV. Each of the seven is competing in a different weight class, so Hawkeye ties will be present at all seven weights at the Olympic trials.
Former Hawkeyes Lee Fullhart and Joe Williams defeated former Iowa State wrestlers to won their weight classes at the national championship meet and earn a bye into the finals of the Olympic team trials at their weight class. Fullhart defeated four-time NCAA Champion Cael Sanderson, 5-2 in the finals. Williams scored a pin and two match terminations en route to his 4-0 finals win over Joe Heskett.
Mocco and former Hawkeye Mike Zadick placed second. Mocco lost a 3-0 decision to former Penn State wrestler Kerry McCoy, while Zadick lost a 3-1 decision to former Oklahoma State wrestler Eric Guerrero. Former Hawkeyes Mike Mena and Doug Schwab placed sixth, and Wes Hand placed seventh. Mocco, Zadick, Mena, Schwab and Hand have to wrestle through the Olympic trials tournament for a shot to represent the United States in Athens.
For more information on the team trial tournament, log on to www.trials2004.com.
| Name | Wt. Class | Wrestling Club | Place at 2004 Ntl. Champs. | Years at Iowa |
| Lee Fullhart | 84 kg. | Gator WC | 1st | 1996-99 |
| Joe Williams | 74 kg. | Sunkist WC | 1st | 1994, 1996-98 |
| Steve Mocco | 120 kg. | New York AC | 2nd | 2002-present |
| Mike Zadick | 60 kg. | Hawkeye WC | 2nd | 1999-2002 |
| Mike Mena | 55 kg. | New York AC | 6th | 1994-97 |
| Doug Schwab | 66 kg. | Minnesota Storm | 6th | 1998-2001 |
| Wes Hand | 96 kg. | Sunkist WC | 7th | 1997-2000 |