The USA Wrestling/Metropolitan Wrestling Association (MWA) "Beat the Streets Program" has received grants from ASICS and Brute Wrestling to outfit 20 teams with wrestling shoes, head guards and shorts. Each boy and girl in the program will be provided the equipment as part of the enrollment in the program.  

The donations save the MWA over $30,000 and allows the organization to invest money towards adding more Middle School wrestling teams to next year's program.

ASICS is a USA Wrestling national sponsor, and has been providing donations and grants to amateur wrestling since 1958.  ASICS has consistently supported amateur wrestling throughout the world. ASICS was named as a sponsor of FILA, the international wrestling federation, during ceremonies at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Brute Wrestling has been a strong supporter of wrestling programs within the United States at all levels for decades. Brute Wrestling has provided significant support to the Beat the Streets program as part of its investment in the sport.

"Without the corporate help of ASICS, Brute Wrestling and Dollamur, the growth rate for wrestling in New York City would not have expanded from one middle school in 2005 to 20 middle schools in 2006," said Al Bevilacqua, Chairman of the Beat the Streets Program. "We have raised over a quarter of a million dollars from many private donors who have committed helping us build the base of wrestling in the United States. We will continue to do so until we are successful in meeting that goal.  These sponsors share in our vision of growing the base of wrestling in the United States.  We have approximately 600,000 wrestlers in the United States now. We could double that in 10 years through a National Beat the Streets effort. " 

About the Beat the Streets Program

Our goal is very simple in New York City. We want to invest in providing a wrestling mat, coaching stipends and equipment for the 275 middle schools in the New York City public schools.  Our first program at the Baruch Middle school in lower Manhattan, had 26 boys and girls.  This season, they have 53 kids.  We will have well over 400 kids in the program by the end of March.  Every time we place a mat in a middle school, 30 kids will join.  The more mats, the more kids.  We simply sell $10,000 sponsorship programs that will "kick back" millions of dollars to wrestling in 10 years.  

In addition, we are helping hundreds of thousands kids beat the streets.  This program is not just growing wrestling but giving kids a chance to participate in a great activity that is "magic" for all kids.

For more information visit the MWA website at
www.mwausa.org