Hatch sits down with Greco-Roman legend Dennis Hall for a raw look at one of the most intense careers in American wrestling. Hall talks about walking away from a full-ride at Wisconsin to chase Greco, going from 0–5 at early World events to World Champion, and the mindset work that helped him handle doubt, pressure, and pain.

He opens up about losing his brother and how that tragedy fueled his run to a 1995 World title, the heartbreak of the 1996 Olympic final in Atlanta, grinding through construction work and Home Depot while chasing another team, and the now-legendary 17-minute overtime war with Brandon Paulson at the 2004 Olympic Trials.

If you care about Greco, toughness, or what it really takes to chase greatness, this episode is for you.

Timed Highlights:
0:00 Opening story and intro to Dennis Hall
2:03 Why US Greco is struggling and who dominates it worldwide
8:47 Leaving Wisconsin and going all-in on Greco
15:20 Early World struggles, 0–5 start, and Dan Chandler’s mindset talk
24:41 First World medal in 1994 and learning to “take it out of the refs’ hands”
39:57 1995 World title run and winning gold on criteria
47:39 Losing his brother, quitting wrestling, and coming back for him
52:31 Building toward the 1996 Olympics and training with foreign hammers
1:02:42 Atlanta matches, rib injury, and making the Olympic final
1:08:30 1996 Olympic final, controversial lift, and living with silver
1:20:55 Working construction and staying elite while broke
1:22:06 Home Depot, John Bartis sponsorship, and one last Olympic push
1:28:21 Dropping a weight for 2004 and proving doubters wrong
1:36:53 17-minute overtime war with Brandon Paulson at the 2004 Trials
1:40:03 The winning takedown, celebration, and respect between two rivals

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In this episode of the Full Tilt podcast, Hatch sits down with Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser for a deep dive into old-school Iowa wrestling culture, program building at every level, and how the sport has evolved from the 1980s to the NIL era.

Dresser shares raw stories from the legendary Iowa room under Dan Gable, from three-a-days and brutal live wrestling to work-hard-play-hard social life. He walks through building dynasty-level programs at Grundy and Christiansburg High Schools, turning Virginia Tech into a national contender, and rebuilding Iowa State into a top-tier Division I power.

They cover toughness versus talent, the impact of RTCs, how NIL has changed recruiting, and what it really takes to be elite as an athlete and a coach.

Timestamps:
2:49 Dresser arrives at Iowa and enters the Gable era
4:07 Inside a dynasty: Iowa’s NCAA title expectations
9:09 First Iowa beatdowns at Jay Robinson’s camp
11:15 The double fish hook story with Lenny Zaleski
16:15 What “old school” really was: three-a-days and nine workouts
24:58 Why wrestlers get hurt more now than in the 80s
28:31 The common trait of Dresser’s best guys: loving live wrestling
33:11 Squaring hips vs rolling around: toughness and ACLs
35:00 Old-school weight cutting vs today’s two-hour weigh-ins
43:32 Jay Robinson camps, road trips, and wild stories
49:47 Building Grundy and Christiansburg into high school powerhouses
53:42 How bingo funded a national-level high school program
1:02:39 Taking over Virginia Tech and starting from dead last
1:12:09 The 2016 Virginia Tech trophy team
1:15:36 Moving to Iowa State with an all-Hawkeye staff
1:18:22 NIL, rev share, and “street value” of college wrestlers
1:25:00 Bringing Cuban stars to Iowa State
1:28:06 Gable’s “Dressler” joke and earning the name Dresser
1:33:26 Dresser’s advice to young coaches: know exactly what you want

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On this episode of the Full Tilt Podcast, Hatch sits down with heavyweight legend Steve Mocco for a deep dive into one of the most unique careers in American wrestling. From judo roots and Blair Academy super-teams to wrestling under the lights in Carver-Hawkeye and Gallagher-Iba, Steve shares the stories, rivalries, and training methods that shaped a generational heavyweight.

They cover his transition from Iowa to Oklahoma State, the real reason behind that move, life at the Olympic Training Center, wild trips to Russia and Ukraine, and what it’s like now running a club and coaching his own sons. Along the way, you’ll hear about training with icons like Terry Brands, John Smith, and Henry Cejudo, plus some unforgettable behind-the-scenes stories.

0:00 Ferrari, Japanese signs, and Iowa–Oklahoma State talk
0:55 Full Tilt intro with Steve Mocco
1:19 Being on the heavyweight Mount Rushmore
3:39 Kidney issue, swimming, and discovering judo
5:39 How judo shaped Mocco’s wrestling style and foot sweep
9:22 “Stand up and fight” judo tournament and Buxton banning judo
11:05 Inside Blair Academy’s super teams and Buxton’s training
24:09 Why Mocco chose Iowa and the first Carver-Hawkeye experience
33:46 Why he transferred from Iowa to Oklahoma State
35:00 Season on the Mat cameras and life inside the Iowa room
56:35 Following Terry Brands to the Olympic Training Center
1:05:43 Manitou Incline and brutal altitude workouts
1:13:36 Winning the Yarygin and beating world champs
1:18:38 Getting shorted on prize money in Russia
1:21:23 Riots, tire fires, and sneaking back into the city
1:30:01 Transition to coaching and starting his Florida club
1:43:00 Balancing dad and coach with his own kids
1:46:44 Who he’d teach his famous foot sweep to

If you enjoy this episode, hit subscribe, drop a comment with your favorite story, and tell us which wrestling legend you want to hear from next!

www.thefulltiltpodcast.com