Former Hawkeye Mocco still has fire

IOWA CITY - Steve Mocco is still competing, still competitive.

When asked if he would retire after his third-place finish at the Olympic Wrestling Trials, the 2008 Olympian had a simple answer.

“I didn't taking my (bleeping) shoes off,” he said and walked off.

Mocco, a former Iowa and Oklahoma State NCAA champ and the No. 2 seed at 264.5 pounds, lost in the challenge tournament semifinals to third-seeded Les Sigman of State College, Pa. He came back and won two consolation matches, finishing third and securing a spot on the national team.

“I'm a wrestler, full time,” he said. “This is whatI do for a living.

“I'm a coach ... this is what we tell them to do.”

He blamed himself for his quarterfinal loss and wished Sigman the best.

“It's not what I wanted,” he said. “It's still a little surreal for me right now.”