JEFFERSON TWP — All Steve Mowry knew is that he wanted to fight.

That's why the 2011 Knoch graduate joined the Knights' wrestling team his junior year. That's also why he decided not to attend Lock Haven University and join the prestigious mat program there.

“I remember wrestling tryouts his junior year and this 6-foot-9 kid walks into the room,” Knoch wrestling coach Mark McLaughlin said. “I told him he was in the wrong room, that basketball practice was in the gym.”

Now 6-9, 230 pounds, Mowry decided to pursue his goal of becoming a fighter, whether it be in boxing, kick-boxing, MMA or Jiu-Jitsu. He's dabbling in all four right now.

Despite no previous experience, Mowry became a two-time WPIAL qualifier in wrestling.

“He learned how to make that lanky body work for him,” McLaughlin said. “His potential was tremendous. (Lock Haven coach) Rob Waller had a lot of interest in him.

“When Steven told me what he wanted to do, I suggested he pursue his dream, to go for it. If needed, he could always get into a college later on.”

Mowry thought about Lock Haven, “but I knew that wasn't the direction I wanted to go,” he said. “I would have been doing myself a dis-service steering away from my goals.”

Mowry is already 2-0 as an amateur MMA fighter. He recently returned from Long Beach, Calif., where he placed third in the ultra-heavyweight division at the World Jiu-Jitsu Expo.

He won his first amateur boxing match, stopping an opponent from New Castle in the second round.

“The guy's a beast, a monster,” workout partner Ryan Covert said. “No one has gotten past the second round against him in any fight yet.

“He's got all of the things you can't teach in fighting — heart, being 6-9, agility — combined with the God-given talent and toughness. He's got power, speed ... He's got every tool in the book.”

And he's learning how to use them.

Mowry trains at the Positive Mental Attitude Center in Butler — and Wrecking Crew Jiu-Jitsu in New Castle, High Ground Jiu-Jitsu in Delmont and the Mat Factory in Tarentum.

“I try to train at least six times a week, sometimes up to 10 times, going twice a day,” Mowry said. “Fighters who pigeon-hole themselves in one gym miss out on what the sport is all about.

“I'm trtying to absorb all of the knowledge I can and put everything together. I've had some great coaches.”

Before turning pro in any sport, Mowry has some amateur goals in mind. He wants to win a Golden Glove title “at least on the state level,” win a Jiu-Jitsu world championship and win his first four kick-boxing bouts. He has yet to compete in the latter field.

“That Golden Glove title is coming this season (March),” Covert declared. “No one is stopping this guy. He is so driven.”

Mowry estimates he began taking his training seriously two years ago. He plans on staying in it for the long haul.

“I'm particularly attracted to MMA and I've got some lofty pro goals there,” he admitted. “But Jiu-Jitsu is something you can stay with into your 50's.”

His initial motivation came from his father — in a different sort of way.

“When I first told my dad I was going to do this, he said I wouldn't be very good at it,” Mowry said. “That's been my big motivation.

“I don't like being told I can't do something. This is something I've been passionate about ever since.”