Bill Knapp is known as the co-founder of Kid Wrestling in New York State and the Eastern United States.

He graduated from Bay Shore High School in 1946. While in school Bill was on the football team, wrestling and track teams. He was an outstanding end on Bay Shore's football team & was an All-County selection. Bill was captain of the wrestling team and was a second-place finisher in the Long Island Championships.

Bill will be most remembered for his work with young people, especially Little League Baseball and wrestling. Bill was co-founder and organizer of Bay Shore Kid Wrestling along with his good friend and Hall of Fame member Gombatista "Jumper" Leggio. Bill's organizational skills with wrestling were used by USA Wrestling and have been a major part of their success today.

Bill was a loving father and husband to his 16 children and Ma1y his wife. He organized and was an active member of many civic groups including the Lions, Kiwanis, Bay Shore Kid Wrestling and Little League baseball. As president of Bay Shores LL Bill developed the Little League complex in Bay Shore for fields that are still used today.

He ran numerous tournaments including the Eastern States Championship held at Hofstra College in 1978. It was Bill's passion that Bay Shore Kid Wrestling was the home of New York State Kid Wrestling. The New York Kid Wrestling Tournament was named after Bill following his untimely death in 1980.

To honor Bill's legacy, the Bay Shore Athletic Sponsors started an award in 1980. It is presented annually to the Bay Shore athlete who most thoroughly demonstrates the characteristics that Bill displayed throughout his life, integrity, good character, academics, and athletics.

Bill Knapp always left his door open to anyone who enjoyed wrestling. They are responsible for the development of many league, county and state champions, and "All-Americans". What Bill Knapp gave to wrestling was truly a gift of love of the sport.

The Knapp family is still in Bay Shore and is still giving back to wrestling and the community. Bestowing this honor on Bill and his wife Mary, and his family is the highest honor that Bill could receive.