Frank BettucciAfter graduating from Ithaca in 1949, Bettucci enrolled at Cornell. Wrestling for head coach Erie "Jimmy" Miller, Bettucci was a three-time 147-pound EIWA (Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association) champion. He capped off his Big Red mat career by winning the 147-pound title at the 1953 NCAAs hosted by Penn State. Bettucci compiled a 48-3 record in three seasons at Cornell, including a 33-match winning streak to close his career.
Bettucci continued his involvement in wrestling after graduation. He earned a place on the men's freestyle team for the 1956 U.S. Olympic wrestling team. Bettucci went to Melbourne, Australia, but a knee injury in practice just before the Games kept him from competing.
"The mats were different, much thicker, and my moves were all pivotal so I twisted my ankle in maneuvers," Bettucci told the Southwest Virginia Today in an August 2016 interview. "It killed me just to sit down and watch, but that's the way life is. I'd love to go back and watch. I like to watch all the Olympics."
Four years later, Bettucci set his sights on wrestling at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He reached the finals of the 1960 U.S. Olympic Trials, but lost a disputed decision to eventual gold medalist Shelby Wilson in the last round.
Bettucci's participation in wrestling was extensive and long-lasting. He won national AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) championships in 1957 and 1960. Bettucci also served as an assistant coach at Cornell.
Jamie Moffatt, noted wrestling writer and Cornell wrestling alum, has fond memories of Frank Bettucci.
"He was one of my coaches during my freshman year (1961-62) on the Cornell wrestling team," Moffatt told InterMat. "I was quite close to Frank and admired him greatly."
Beyond wrestling, Bettucci went on to serve with the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. He spent most of his post-college career serving overseas on various assignments with the Agency for International Development (USAID).
Frank Bettucci earned a number of wrestling honors in his lifetime. He is a member of the New York State Wrestling Hall of Fame, Cornell University Athletic Hall of Fame, and Eastern Intercollegiate Hall of Fame. Bettucci was welcomed into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame as a Distinguished Member in June 2015. Sadly, because Bettucci suffered from neuropathy in his feet and was unable to walk, was not able to be present for the induction ceremony in Oklahoma. However, Bettucci was there in spirit. A group of friends -- including fellow Cornell great Dave Auble, current Big Red wrestling coach Rob Koll, and Jamie Moffatt -- traveled to the assisted living facility in Virginia where Bettucci lived at the time to be with the honoree and watch a live feed of the ceremony.
Cornell coach Koll shared a personal recollection of Bettucci with InterMat.
"My fondest memory of Frank was when he returned to the mats at 66 years old to wrestle in a Cornell alumni match. He attempted one of his infamous duck-unders and caught an elbow to the face. Although the trainers, coaches and everyone else in the gym wanted him to stop, as he was bleeding profusely, Frank shrugged it off and finished the match. He was just an incredibly tough customer!"
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