MASSAPEQUA, N.Y. - Prior to the championship finals of the 48th annual Massapequa High School Wrestling Tournament on December 28, it was announced that the wrestling room at Massapequa High School would be named in honor of longtime USA Wrestling leader Al Bevilacqua.

The Friends of Massapequa Wrestling, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to fostering the sport of wrestling in Massapequa, announced the Massapequa School District’s decision to honor Coach Bevilacqua in front of a packed gymnasium for this event, traditionally one of the strongest holiday tournaments on Long Island.

Bevilacqua addressed the audience at the competition during the ceremony, and was greeted with applause from a community which appreciated his leadership and service.

Bevilacqua served as an educator with the Massapequa Public Schools from 1961 to 1994. He began coaching wrestling at Massapequa as an assistant and later assumed the Head Coaching position in 1963. Bevilacqua continued as the Head Coach until 1977 when assistant Gary Mims took over the program. As time permitted him over the years, he continued as a volunteer assistant to his close friend Mims. Bevilacqua’s dedication, commitment and contribution to the Massapequa community and its young men and women has spanned more than 50 years. 

The Friends of Massapequa Wrestling have pledged to pay for renovation of the wrestling room. In addition to honoring Coach Al Bevilacqua, the renovated wrestling room walls will tell the history of wrestling in Massapequa. The names of State and County champions and place winners, as well as the winners of other individual honors from both Massapequa High School and Berner High School*, along with team honors, will be on the walls above the mats.

* In 1987 Berner High School became Berner Jr. High School and all High School students in the school district attended Massapequa High School.

In order to achieve this goal, the Friends of Massapequa Wrestling is reaching out to all Massapequa and Berner alumni whose lives were touched by Coach Bevilacqua or the wrestling program and to anybody else who would like to help. The initial estimate for the renovation is in excess of $50,000. To make a tax deductible contribution please make your check payable to the “Friends of Massapequa Wrestling Inc.” and mail it to Post Office Box 61, Massapequa, New York 11758. All contributions will be greatly appreciated. 

An artist rendition of the renovated wrestling room was on exhibit at the December 29 Christmas tournament and will also be on display at the January 6 alumni night. Visit the website at http://www.LeagueLineup.com/MassapequaWrestling

In his lifetime of service to wrestling, Bevilacqua has been a leader in the sport on the national and international levels, in addition to his efforts in his local and state community.

Bevilacqua was named 2005 USA Wrestling Man of the Year for his efforts on behalf of the national governing body of wrestling. 

Last month, the National Wrestling Hall of Fame announced that Bevilacqua will be receive its Order of Merit award during the Hall of Fame Honors Weekend in June 2012. He will be inducted alongside his son Chris Bevilacqua, who is being honored as an Outstanding American Award winner.

Bevilacqua has served in almost every possible role within wrestling, including as a coach, an administrator and a visionary.

He is currently leading the Beat the Streets USA program, helping develop wrestling opportunities in urban areas across the nation. He was a founder and leader of the successful Beat the Streets New York program which has transformed the sport in one of the world’s leading cities.

At one point in his career, Bevilacqua served as a staff member for USA Wrestling, when its headquarters were in Stillwater, Okla. He has coached for USA Wrestling on the international level on many occasions. He also served as a wrestling coach for Hofstra University.

In connection with the naming of the Massapequa wrestling room, this information on Coach Bevilacqua has been provided by Friends of Massapequa Wrestling.

Al Bevilacqua
Massapequa High School Educator 1961 - 1994
Massapequa High School Head Coach 1963 – 1977
USA Wrestling Eastern Development Director 1972 - 1979
USA Wrestling Board of Directors 1972 - 1986
USA Wrestling New York State Chairperson 1973 – 1979
Hofstra University Coach 1977 – 1979
US Wrestling Federation Vice President 1978 - 1980
US Wrestling Federation Assistant Director 1979 – 1981
US Wrestling Federation Special Service Award 1981
USA Wrestling National Coach 1983 – 1991
FILA World Cup 1983
FILA Junior World Championships Head Coach 1983
USA Wrestling Coach of the Year 1983
FILA Espoir World Cup Head Coach 1984
FILA Coaches Commission 1985 – 1991
Tbilisi Games Team Leader 1985
Tbilisi Championships Head Coach 1986, 1987, 1988
New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame 1987
USOC Finalist Freestyle Head Coach Olympic Games 1988
Metropolitan Wrestling Association Man of the Year 1990
Cerro-Pelado Championships Head Coach 1991
New York University Sports Hall of Fame 1992
Massapequa High School Hall of Fame 1996
National Wrestling Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award 1996
National High School Wrestling Coaches Association Assistant Director 1996 - 1999
FILA President Pin World Championships Madison Square Garden 2003
Co-Founder Beat the Streets Wrestling Program 2004
USA Wrestling Man of the Year 2005
WIN Magazine Impact Award Winner 2005
Wrestling USA Magazine Man of the Year 2006
Friends of Massapequa Wrestling, Director 2004 - 2010
Friends of Massapequa Wrestling, Honorary Director 2010
National Wrestling Hall of Fame Order of Merit 2012

Massapequa High School Wrestling History

Massapequa wrestling is a program rich with history and tradition that dates back to the 1950’s. The Massapequa Wrestling program, comprised of all freshmen, began in 1952 under the leadership of Coach Len Connor. 

In 1955, Bill Deveaux took over as the head coach and managed the program through 1957, which included the first graduating class in 1956. John Haas officially took over as the head coach in 1958 and continued until 1962. Coach Haas developed a style and philosophy that became the building block of the program. 

In 1963, former wrestler Al Bevilacqua took over as the head coach. Wrestling grew and flourished at Massapequa under the leadership and program development of Coach Bevilacqua. 

Years later, another former wrestler, Gary Mims would become an assistant coach and help Coach Bevilacqua turn Massapequa into a wrestling powerhouse. Mims would go on to become the head coach in 1978 and guide the program through 28 successful years up until his retirement in 2006. 

In 2006, Joe Catalanotto took over as head coach at Massapequa. Prior to 2006, Coach Catalanotto had been the Junior High coach for seven years and an assistant with both the Varsity and Junior Varsity programs at Massapequa. 
 
Academic honors - Massapequa has also had it share of champions in the classroom, it has been the recipients of the New York State Team Scholar athlete award in wrestling numerous times including 6 times between 2002 - 2008. An accomplishment shared by the students, teachers, coaches, parents, school administration and supporters of the program who all take great pride in our student athletes