Author: BTSPhilly

Many Beat the Streets Philadelphia student athletes continued to train/compete out of various off-season training sites during the Spring and Summer months following the 2013-14 season, knowing that “Summer training builds winter champions.”  To reward those who did, scholarships were awarded to attend overnight wrestling camp hosted by Lock Haven University.   BTS-Philly sponsored 27 middle school students for Lock Haven University’s  Junior High School Competition Camp from June 26^th-29^th, and 40 high school students for Lock Haven’s Intensive Technique Camp running June 17^th-19^th.  Accompanying the student athletes from Philadelphia were several local coaches, mentors, and recent HS graduates to facilitate learning and supervise during free-time around campus.
Led by Head Coach and NCAA All-American, Scott Moore, Lock Haven’s coaching staff and wrestlers organized an excellent camp experience.  Campers received top-notch instruction from several seasoned veterans of the sport, including NCAA All-Americans Scott Moore and Steve Fittery (LHU’s Head Assistant Coach), Central Mountain High School’s Head Coach Doug Buckwalter, and many current NCAA competitors from LHU, University of Pennsylvania, and Drexel University.  In addition to wrestling sessions, Coach Steve Fittery ran campers through an intense cross-fit workout.  Cross-fit is an excellent form of training for any athlete and is a growing trend throughout the health/fitness world.  The growing popularity is due to the way each workout is designed to improve one’s overall fitness (strength, speed, agility, endurance, etc.) while engaging all parts of the body with a wide range of motions.  During the little free time they had throughout the camp, participants enjoyed spending time at the pool and hanging out with friends/coaches at the dorms on campus.  Each camp was completed with a tournament on the last day.
Though camp is an integral piece of year-round training, it is also an opportunity to encounter new cultures, meet new people, have new experiences, and build on relationships between students and coaches.  The fact that this all takes place on a college campus also makes camp an opportunity to build students’  interest in attending college, while providing a glimpse into that world.
Between the excellent group of coaches/wrestlers provided by Lock Haven Camps and the staff we brought along, there was a very high ratio of instructors to students.  When this group of wrestlers/educators were combined with the hard-working campers and given access to the great facilities of Lock Haven University, the product was a unique environment for skills development and an overall positive experience for everyone.
Beat the Streets Philadelphia’s staff, coaches, mentors, and participants are grateful to the many generous donors who make opportunities like these a reality.

Last year, we shed some light on Harold Anderson’s road to Penn Charter. We are pleased to announce that Harold won the Williams C. Shields 3rd Memorial Prize in his first year. This award goes “to a student who has completed Ninth Grade with an outstanding record in character, scholarship and sportsmanship”. We decided to touch base with him to check out his progress now that the school year is over.
 
What does it mean to win the award?
HA: This award to me is validation of all the hard work and effort I’ve put in, and all the obstacles and barriers I’ve passed on my journey. It shows that people have not only noticed, but acknowledged my dedication and persistence. More importantly, this awards means that I’m living up to my full potential, pushing myself to achieve, and making everyone who supports and helps me proud.
What is the biggest reason that has lead your success in school and athletics?
HA: Being constantly engaged in what I’m doing. With being a new student at Penn Charter and playing my first year high school varsity sports, I couldn’t afford to be aloof and unsocialable during the year. In school, I was participating often in class and volunteering for any activities. In addition to that, I got involved in student council and was elected vice president for 10th grade. In sports, I learned as much as I could everyday and took advantage of every opportunity to get better.
What are your thoughts on Beat the Streets?
HA: Beat the Streets is an excellent and compelling program that allows kids to create a path to success for themselves through wrestling. The sport of wrestling, unlike any other, teaches you efficient techniques and methods that you can carry into all aspects of life. Beat the Streets helps and guides kids how to apply those techniques and methods into all of those aspects. That help and guidance, as you can see, can carry you a long way in life and set you up for success.
What advice do you have for younger student-athletes?
HA: Stay persistent and always find the positives of any situation. Being new to wrestling is intimidating itself, especially for younger kids. On top of that, traveling to tournaments and facing some of the best competition in the state and taking consecutive losses can be really disappointing and take the fun out the sport. It’s essential to remind younger athletes often to keep giving it 100 percent and to think about their personal progression and the experience they’re gaining.
What are your long terms goals?
HA: The only set goal I really have at this time is to create as many opportunities going forward as I can. I think having options allows me to pick choices that best fit me and alleviate my stress. I try to prevent from setting any long term goals as of now, though most likely they will be sports related.
 
 
We wish Harold and the rest of our student-athletes the best during all of their academic and athletic endeavors!

BTS-Philly prepares to wrap up our 2014 off-season training with the send-off to wrestling camp at Lock Haven University and our Fargo qualifiers’ departure to the national team training camp. The progress made by student-athletes who consistently practiced and competed during the freestyle wrestling season is a true testament to the value of year-round training.  While everybody can work hard during the regular season, those who continue to train through the spring and summer months make invaluable gains on their competitors who choose to take that time off.
With that theme in mind, BTS-Philly recognizes the student-athletes within the Mentoring Program who will be utilizing their summer vacation from school to take part in our inaugural Summer Scholar courses.  These committed individuals realize the power of year-round training of both mind and body, and will be spending their free time this summer to get ahead in their academic careers as well.
The BTS-Philly Mentoring Center has partnered with teachers from School Lane Charter, Council Rock School District, and Mariana Bracetti Academy to run a 6-week summer course for 7^th-9^th graders.  The middle school summer course curriculum is designed to develop skills in both Math and Language Arts that will be conducive to success at the high school level, as well as enhancing performance on standardized tests such as the PSSA and SSAT.
The Mentoring Center has also partnered with an organization called Tomorrow’s Genius in developing a course for high school students. Tomorrow’s Genius operates remotely out of New York City, and creates a virtual classroom environment tailored to the academic abilities and specific learning styles for each of the students enrolled. By building skills in Math and Language Arts, the course promotes improved performance in high school classes, standardized tests such as the SATs/ACTs, and prepares students for college. You can learn more about Tomorrow’s Genius by visiting their website at www.tomorrowsgenius.com
Both the MS and HS courses will operate in a small group setting of 6-10 students per class.  A licensed educator and three teacher’s aides will run each class, creating an extremely focused learning environment with a high instructor-to-student ratio.  The teacher’s aides were selected from University of Pennsylvania/Drexel University applicants who have experience working as BTS-Philly near-peer mentors and recently graduated BTS-Philly student-athletes with the desire to give back to the program.
Each class also includes a unit on Mindfulness, a discipline revolving around mental awareness/preparation. These exercises promote the ability to focus on both academic and athletic tasks, which will help our student-athletes gain the mental edge that is crucial for performing to the height of their potential both on and off the mat. The Summer Scholars program will also include a number of cultural experiences – fun and educational field trips to local establishments such as the Philadelphia Art Museum, The Franklin Institute, and more!

While some wrestlers hang up their shoes at the end of folkstyle season, Beat the Streets Philly athletes took advantage of spring and summer wrestling opportunities by training in freestyle, the international class of wrestling competed in the Olympics. After attending numerous qualifying tournaments, nearly 60 wrestlers earned a bid to the PAWF State Championship in Chambersburg PA May 31-June 1. In the first day of competition, 12 BTS Philly wrestlers took home hardware in multiple boys’ divisions by placing top 3 in their weight classes. Overall, Beat the Streets had 6 State Champions with 2 wrestlers qualifying to represent Pennsylvania at the Cadet and Junior National Championships in July. Cadet and Junior wrestlers are in 8^th-12^th grades.
On Sunday June 1, The Beat the Streets Philly Girls’ freestyle season culminated at the 2014 PAWF Girls Freestyle State Championships. In total, all 10 participants placed top 3 in their weight classes. Highlights included tournament champion Unique Jones avenging an earlier season loss to Mariah Harris of Johnston PA and Beat the Streets sweeping all 3 medals in the 90 lb Novice Division with Jadyn Drummond, Kennedy Cole and Kiana Habersham going 1, 2 and 3 respectively. In this round robin division, each girl had a 1-1 record meaning the champion was decided on criteria of who scored the most points. Amazingly, all 3 girls scored 18 points in their matches forcing a 3^rd criteria tiebreaker. Drummond was declared the tournament champion as she won her match by the biggest point differential. Finally, in the Cadet and Junior Divisions, 3 Beat the Streets athletes qualified for the Pennsylvania Women’s National team by placing top 3 at their weights. Seniors Unique Jones and Lakita Williams return to the National team after becoming the 1^st BTS girls to represent Team Pennsylvania in 2013. They will be joined by 7^th grader, Kyla Arroyo, who placed 3^rd at Cadet 115 lbs to qualify.
In addition to the 5 BTS Philly wrestlers qualifying for the Cadet and Junior National tournament, four city wrestlers were invited to join the Pennsylvania Schoolboy Team, which competed against the best teams in the nation in Indianapolis on June 8^th. In the dual meet tournament, each state sends a squad of their best wrestlers ages 12-13. Jameel Coles of the PAL Rizzo program, led the way for Beat the Streets Philly with a perfect 8-0 record in Freestyle. PAL Rizzo teammates, Greg Nau and Mike Leyland and Belmont Charter School wrestler, Kyree Brown rounded out the BTS Philly Schoolboy National Team members.

The primary mission for Beat the Streets Philadelphia is to positively alter the life trajectories of our student athletes. Many BTS Philly participants find success on the wrestling mat, but ultimately the skills and lessons they learn in wrestling positively impact their achievements in the classroom. At BTS Philly, we focus on the holistic development of young people by engaging students through wrestling and mentoring. One way we measure the success of this holistic approach is by taking a closer look at the post-secondary plans of graduating high school seniors who participate in the Beat the Streets Wrestling program. In a survey of 10 Philadelphia wrestling teams, both partially and fully sponsored by BTS, 38 out of 49 seniors have post-secondary plans, including 4 year colleges/universities, community college, trade school or military service. This rate of 78% could climb higher as seniors make their final decisions and choices this spring.
Mastery Charter Shoemaker, coached by Matt McConnell, led the way for BTS sponsored teams will all 5 of its seniors entering 4 year universities in the fall. This strong class of 2014 includes two of BTS Philly’s female wrestlers in Lakita Williams and Unique Jones, both of whom will attend Temple University. East Stroudsburg University will welcome Frankell Mack to its campus Darius Bernhardt will attend Albright and Demetrius Spicer rounds out this “Fab Five” of Mastery Charter seniors matriculating to the University of Virginia.
Overall, 23 seniors enrolled in 4 year universities with 6 BTS alums becoming Temple Owls and 5 more headed to East Stroudsburg University. BTS Philly counsels high school wrestlers on many options in addition to 4 year programs and 9 wrestlers will head to trade schools or community college. Finally, 5 high school graduates of BTS Teams have decided to join the Armed Forces, including the National Guard, US Army and US Marine Corps.
Congratulations to the Beat the Streets Philadelphia Class of 2014!

Beat the Streets Philadelphia Class of 2014 College/Career Choices

 Adams State University, Colorado
Apprentice Program
Arcadia University
Aviation Institute of Maintenance
Bloomsburg University
Community College of Philadelphia (2)
Chestnut Hill College
College of Faith Charlotte, NC
DeVry University
East Stroudsburg University (5)
Edinboro University (2)
Kings College
Lock Haven University (2)
Marines (3)
National Guard
North Carolina A&T
Notre Dame College
Temple University (6)
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology (5)
University of Virginia
US Army