Frank Bettucci graduated from Ithaca High in 1949 after playing 4 seasons of football and 3 seasons of wrestling and golf. In his senior year he was captain of each of those teams and was student body president as well. As a wrestler Frank was undefeated in Section IV competition.

After graduation he attended Cornell, where in 1953 he was NCAA wrestling champion at 147 pounds and won the Most Outstanding Wrestler award at the national tournament. He was on the 1956 and 1960 Olympic wrestling teams and won the 1960 AAU national wrestling title. Frank is a member of the Cornell and Section IV Halls of Fame.