BTS Philly Wrestlers Take Part in NWCA All-Star Event

“Altering life’s trajectory” is the vision of Beat the Streets, Philadelphia. This is accomplished by addressing student needs, not just athletically but also academically and socially.  This past weekend our wrestlers were able to participate in an All-Star event at Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania that encompassed all facets of this vision. Friday evening thirty-seven BTS wrestlers participated in a National Wrestling Coaches Association Youth All-Star Dual Meet at Drexel University.  After wrestling on Friday, 140 BTS Philadelphia wrestlers were invited to participate in an All-Star clinic at the Palestra at the University of Pennsylvania.  In addition to the 140 BTS Philadelphia students, there were also 80 BTS wrestlers representing Baltimore, Washington D.C., and New York City.  The coaches who ran this all day clinic are all highly successful wrestling coaches at the collegiate and Olympic level. Allowing our students the opportunity to attend this clinic and to work with these coaches will help them this year as they prepare for the season to begin. Another great component to the weekend was a campus tour around the University of Pennsylvania. Andrew Lenzi and Geoffery Bostany, both University of Pennsylvania wrestlers, graciously took time to escort the BTS wrestlers around campus and to get them excited about the prospect of college.  Many students involved in the program have never stepped foot on a college campus (even though some may live only blocks away).  When the goal is to alter students’ life trajectories, it becomes mandatory that we provide them with every opportunity to see and experience a wide array of universities, to encourage and foster thoughts that will challenge our wrestlers to succeed in the classroom and on the mat, and propel them forward in to college. Finally, our students were able to sit on the sidelines together and cheer as they watched an All-Star match between two of the best current college level wrestlers.  While, watching excellent wrestlers is important and exciting, building relationships with each other is equally as important. Providing a space for our diverse community of wrestlers to build meaningful and impactful relationships with each other, will challenge and push them to work hard on the mat and in school on the path to college. Many thanks go to the NWCA, the Wrestlers in Business Network and Brute for making the entire weekend possible for our students and for providing gear for each of them at the event. If you are interested in getting involved in Beat the Streets Philadelphia or donating to our cause please visit our website at www.btpshilly.org/donate.