The Order of Merit is an award that recognizes individuals for extraordinary contributions and service to the sport of wrestling, above and beyond athletic achievement or coaching success. Al Bevilacqua has certainly done this through his numerous roles in wrestling.

Bevilacqua has been coaching and marketing wrestling for 47 years as an organizer, administrator, and as a coach at state and national levels. He was an integral member of the United States Wrestling Federation’s movement in becoming the sport’s National Governing Body while serving as its Director of Developmental Camps in the 1970s.

His greatest contributions have been felt through the Beat the Streets NYC Program. As one of the founders, Bevilacqua helped start 60 high school and 50 middle school wrestling programs since its inception in 2003. The mission of the organization is to enhance the athletic lives—and the overall lives—of the members of the wrestling community by providing leadership and direction. Beat the Streets facilitates opportunities to young people through preparation and participation in the sport of wrestling.

Today, he serves as an ambassador for USA Wrestling’s Living the Dream Medal Fund, which sponsors Olympic and World medalists in wrestling. The program provides incentive-based opportunities for American wrestlers who succeed at the highest levels of competition.

Bevilacqua also served two years as head wrestling coach at Hofstra University and was a USA Wrestling National Coaching staff member from 1983 through 1991, serving as a coach for the U.S. teams at the Junior World Championships, Espoir World Championships, Tbilisi Tournament, and the World Cup. He was the USA Wrestling State Chairperson for New York from 1971 through 1979. Bevilacqua was a member of USA Wrestling’s Board of Directors from 1972 through 1986 and was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame Long Island Chapter for Lifetime Service in 1990.