The Dollamur Mat Company has provided wrestling mats which have been delivered to seven new Middle School Programs in New York City under the sponsorship and leadership of the Metropolitan Wrestling Association "Beat the Streets" initiative.

Dollamur Mat Company, based in Dallas, Texas, in conjunction with the Beat the Streets Program is one of the many wrestling companies who have joined as a "Proud Sponsor of the Beat the Streets Program." They are providing wrestling mats at below market rates to help develop wrestling in the large urban centers of the United States.

The mats will ultimately provide opportunities to thousands of kids to use and feel the "magic" of a wrestling in a physical education unit and an after school intramural activity. Each participating school will receive a two-year grant from the MWA providing a mat, equipment and coaching stipend.  

The new coaches will become certified on Oct. 30 participating in a USA Wrestling Bronze Level Certification Program at Hunter College in Manhattan, N.Y.

The program begins Dec. 1, 2005 with 10 teams and Feb. 1, with 10 additional teams participating in an after-school intramural program designed to introduce and teach the Seven Basic Skills of Wrestling.  They will meet twice on Saturdays for intramural competition among their peers.

"Without the help of Dollamur and other manufacturers stretching our private sponsorship dollars we will be unable to provide these grants to the massive number of students in the New York City Public Schools," said Al Bevilaqua, MWA Chairman. "Our goal is very simple. We want to place a mat in every one of the 275 middle schools and have every child experience the 'wrestling magic' through a five-week Physical Education unit followed by a 10-week after-school program."

For more information regarding the Beat the Streets Program go to:
www.mwausa.org.

If you are interested in helping kids getting involved in wrestling by providing more mats please call Al Bevilacqua 631-598-2281 or e-mail Bill Crum, MWA Executive Director : edmwa@aol.com