Mocco, Esposito, Backes Compete in Final Olympic Trials This Weekend – June 13-15; Follow Them Online

Today is June 13, 2008…the first day of the Olympic Wrestling Trials, which will be held at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nev., June 13-15.

And…

And….three former Blair student-athletes, Steve Mocco (2001), Zack Esposito (2002), and Kurt Backes (2002) are in Las Vegas right now ready to represent their country at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

All three have a bona fide shot at making the 2008 Olympic Wrestling Team in freestyle and will compete in the final Olympic Trials this weekend.

Mocco is currently ranked #2 at 264.5 lbs., Esposito is ranked #4 at 145.5 lbs., Backes is ranked #4 at 211.5 lbs.

“It’s “go-time” for these three special kids,” said Jeff Buxton, Blair Head Coach, who coached all three wrestlers during their prep years. “I’ll be in Las Vegas rooting for them with all my heart. They have put in so much time and I am extremely confident that the endless hours of work they put into reaching their goals will pay off for all of them and that Blair will have representation on the 2008 Olympic Wrestling Team.”

Mocco did his collegiate wrestling at the University of Iowa and Oklahoma State University. He was a four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion in the collegiate ranks. Esposito wrestled for Oklahoma State University where he was a three-time All-American and NCAA champion. Backes competed for the Cyclones of Iowa State University where he was a two-time All-American and NCAA runner-up.

The 2008 Olympic Trials go through Sunday, June 15 the day in which Mocco and Backes vie for their Olympic berths. Esposito competes on Saturday, June 14. You can follow the Blair triumvirate at www.themat.com, www.flowrestling.com or at www.NBCOlympics.com.

Please direct all questions and comments to buxtoj@blair.edu.