Iowa City, Iowa - The Univ. of Iowa has granted a transfer release to 2003 NCAA heavyweight champion Steve Mocco, according to Mocco. The release was granted on the Friday morning in a meeting with Mocco's family and Iowa coaches.    Mocco recently competed in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Team Trials-Wrestling in Indianapolis, Ind., where he placed third.    "I am not closing the door on Iowa," Mocco said. "I am going to do what is best for my freestyle career at this point. My goal is to become a World and Olympic champion, and at this time in my career, I want to make sure I am in the best possible situation for that to happen."    Mocco requested releases to nine Division I institutions: Cornell, East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, Hofstra, Lehigh, Northern Iowa, Oklahoma State, Rider and Rutgers.    "I chose these nine schools based on my specific needs to get better as a freestyle wrestler and my goal of earning a college degree," Mocco stated. "Iowa is an honorable institution and they remain as a school I am heavily considering attending next year."    Iowa head coach Jim Zalesky declined to comment.    Mocco has had a stellar career at the Univ. of Iowa, finishing as a national runner-up in 2002 before winning the national title in 2003. He holds a career record of 71-3.    He applied for an Olympic waiver from the NCAA to train towards making the Olympic Team this year.    In the last year, Mocco has competed in several international competitions, winning three gold medals and one silver medal in those tournaments. He placed second in the 2004 U.S. Freestyle National Championships just over one month before the Olympic Trials.    Mocco is originally from North Bergen, N.J., and attended Blair Academy where he was a four-time National Preps champion (1998-2001) and a three-time Junior Nationals champion (1999-2001). He placed fourth in the 2001 Junior Freestyle World Championships.    He was named the 2001 ASICS High School Wrestler of the Year.