Tag: featured

Coach with Beat the Streets Philly!

Posted on by Dan Altomare

To learn about openings at specific sites, please complete our Coaching Interest Form and we will contact you shortly!

Below is a summary of the different types of programs supported by Beat the Streets:

High School Programs

Season: 11/19/19 – 03/07/20

Practice Schedule: M-F (3:30p – 5:00p); some programs may vary slightly

Competition Schedule: 

League Duals: W/F (3:30-5:00p) 

Tournaments: Variable. All programs require some weekend availability
High School Scholastic Partners are school-sponsored wrestling programs (competing in the PIAA) supported in part through Beat the Streets Philadelphia. 

Programs operate according to a standard high school practice/competition schedule; beginning in mid-November and continuing through the PIAA State Championships in March.

Teams wrestle in dual meets (competing in the Philadelphia Public League) on Wednesdays & Fridays throughout a portion of the season and compete in some weekend tournaments as well.

Positions are currently available at multiple locations throughout Philadelphia.

Middle School Programs

Season: 11/19/19 – 02/16/20

Practice Schedule: M-F (3:30p – 5:00p); some programs may vary slightly

Competition Schedule:

League Duals: Sat. (9:00a – 12:00p) 

Tournaments: Sunday, February 17th

Middle School Scholastic programs are school-sponsored middle school wrestling teams (grades 6-8), sponsored by Beat the Streets Philadelphia.

These programs practice twice per week, immediately after school, beginning in late November (date variable based on program) with practices continuing through mid-February.

From a ‘competitive’ standpoint, wrestlers participate in (2) weekend dual or tri-meets throughout the month of January & our end of season tournament takes place in mid-February.

Club Programs (Community-Based)

Season: 11/19/19 – 02/16/20

Practice Schedule: 2 weeknights per week; varies by program

Competition Schedule: 

League Duals: Sat. (9:00a – 12:00p) 

Tournaments: Sunday, February 17th

Outside Tournaments: variable based on program*

Community-Based Club Programs are open to wrestlers of all ages (grades K-12). Club practices take place on weekday evenings 2 days per week (variable by the program).

Additionally, wrestlers in grades K-8 are offered opportunities to wrestle ‘competitively’ through our intramural league which takes place throughout the month of January and our Philadelphia Wrestling Day in mid-February.

Through select programs, some more advanced/experienced wrestlers are offered a wider range of opportunities to compete.

Fargo Preview

Posted on by Dan Altomare

This article featuring our student-athletes will be updated over the next week, adding a couple of profiles each day. Stay tuned to learn more about the journeys of all 9 BTSP student-athletes who are qualified for the Fargo National Championships!
Daishawn Tilghman (Junior – 220)
Now a 3-time Fargo qualifier, Daishawn is ready to make the jump. In all 3 of his trips to the National Championships, he’s fallen just short of the podium to some very challenging opponents. This year, Daishawn is a proving to be a challenging opponent his competitors should not overlook.
After finishing 2nd in FS at NE Regionals, Daishawn is primed for a deep run.
 
Angel Garcia (US #18) (Junior – 170)
After unexpectedly coming home empty-handed last summer, Angel believes he has what it takes to earn double All-American status. Following two nice finals victories over National Preps 6th place finisher Caden Rogers (Malvern Prep), Angel is ready to buckle down, fine tune his technique, & get his mind right for July.
His path to the top of the podium will be far from easy, but that won’t deter Angel even in the slightest. Anyone stepping into the circle with Angel can look forward to a difficult, physical, six minutes.
 
Jameel Coles (Junior – 195)
After stepping away from freestyle/greco for a couple of years, Jameel is back & seems to have gotten the rust off nicely. Coles cruised a championship in freestyle & won the greco championships with a ‘flying squirrel’ in the waning seconds of the match!
After a 5th place finish at the PIAA State Tournament this past March & a 7th place finish at NHSCA Nationals, Jameel is rolling & feeling good about his chances heading into next month. Although his path that has included a few twists & turns over the past few years, we’re happy to see Jameel having fun wrestling & competing at a high level!
 
Tatyana Ortiz (Junior – 106)
In her final Fargo campaign, Taty is locked in & focused on her goal of climbing the Fargo podium. A senior, she’s the seasoned veteran of the group & continues to set the example for Philadelphia wrestlers following in her footsteps.
Next year, Tatyana is looking forward to competing as an inaugural member of the East Stroudsburg University Wrestling Team! We’re so proud of how far Tatyana has come over the years & elated to see her getting the opportunity to continue wrestling that she deserves!
 
Grigol Khochishivili (Junior – 152)
Gaga, as his teammates call him, began combat sports at a young age as a competitor in Judo. He’d found a great deal of success in the sport, finishing 3rd nationally just a few years ago.
Entering high school, wrestling seemed like a somewhat natural fit. While he has enjoyed folkstyle, he found a real passion for Greco-Roman wrestling last spring. He qualified for Fargo in greco-roman 2018, but was unable to attend due to family commitments. After a successful folkstyle season, winning a DXII Championship & falling just short of the PIAA State Tournament, Gaga is prepared to make some noise nationally.
Despite placing 2nd at states in both styles, Gaga has elected to focus on greco as he prepares for Fargo. His goal is not just to get on the podium, but to climb as high as he can!
 
John Colburne (Cadet – 182)
In just his 2nd year competing in freestyle/greco-roman wrestling, John is just scratching the surface of his potential. With big throws & a relentless attacking style, John powered his way to a 3rd place finish in freestyle & 2nd in greco. In addition to qualifying for the National Championships, John is also incredibly excited to have earned the opportunity to train at the Pennsylvania Regional Training Center!
John’s growth over the last year has not come by accident. His hard work, embrace of the grind, and emergence as a ‘student of the sport’ has really shined this spring. We have no doubt that John is going to impress at Fargo!
 
Steven Foster (Junior – 106)
Steven has taken the path less traveled by many wrestlers. After spending a majority of his youth competing in boxing, Steven began wrestling freestyle & greco just last spring with no real experience in folkstyle. Steven took to both olympic styles quite naturally in 2018 & qualified for Fargo despite his newness to the sport; a fantastic accomplishment!
This year, Steven is back & he has set the bar even higher. After finishing 2nd in freestyle & 1st in greco, with a full-year of wrestling experience under his belt, it’s going to be exciting to see how his Fargo campaign plays out.
 
Mohammed Savriddinov (Cadet – 132)
Mohammed “Mo” Savriddinov has been training out of Rizzo PAL this spring & it’s great to see his hard work pay off! A freshman at Council Rock South, Mo has been excited to continue improving all spring!
After a nice showing in freestyle, finishing 5th, Mo wrestled through a tough field on Sunday to finish 3rd in Greco-Roman. Our lone freshman qualifier, we’re very proud of Mo & excited for him to experience the Fargo for his first time!
 
Reynaldo Garcia (Cadet – 145)
After having his spring season cut short last year following a neck injury, Rey has been hungry to bounce back this spring! After great performances at NHSCA’s, Northeast Regionals, & Easton Freestyle Duals, Rey had some well-deserved confidence heading into the state tournament.
With confidence & high energy, Reynaldo dominated opponents on his way to a finals berth in both styles. While he ultimately fell short to a tough opponent in 2x PIAA State Medalist Paniro Johnson (Erie Cathedral Prep), Garcia walked away with a lot to build on over the course of the next few weeks. We’re very proud of the progress Rey has made & we’re elated to see him earn an opportunity that he’s worked so hard toward!
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Providing truly unique experiences to student-athletes, like Fargo, takes a community effort. With the support of our community, we have a goal of raising $10,000; which would fully cover the cost of Fargo for the 9 qualified student-athletes. Beyond exposure to wrestling on a national stage, the Fargo experience provides kids an opportunity to build lasting relationships with wrestlers from all over the US, to train with world-level clinicians, and (for some) to leave the city of Philadelphia for the first time! For these kids who have worked so hard, we ask that you please help us provide a positively life-altering experience that each of them deserves!
Donations can be made through Facebook or through our website directly. If donating through our website, please write Fargo Fundraiser in the ‘comments’ section of the Donate Now page

9 BTSP Wrestlers Qualify for Fargo National Championships

Posted on by Dan Altomare

Over the past few years, Beat the Streets Philadelphia wrestlers have increasingly found success in Freestyle/Greco-Roman wrestling and this year was no different. After an exciting spring season of regional qualifiers, dual tournaments, weekend clinics, & practices, BTSP was able to take a team of 28 wrestlers to Central Mountain High School in Mill Hall, PA to compete in the Wrestling State Championships.
At the state tournament, the top three finishers at each high school weight class qualify for the USAW Freestyle/Greco-Roman National Championships in Fargo, North Dakota! All of the kids wrestled incredibly well & as a result, a record-high 9 BTSP wrestlers qualified for the Fargo National Championships this July! A summary of results is listed below:
Cadet

  1. Shermuhammed Navruzov (3rd GR) @ 132
  2. Reynaldo Garcia (2nd FS / 3rd GR) @138
  3. John Colburne (3rd FS / 2nd GR) @ 182

Junior

  1. Tatyana Ortiz (1st FS / 2nd GR) @ 106
  2. Steven Foster (2nd FS / 1st GR) @ 106
  3. Grigol Khochishivili (2nd FS / 2nd GR) @ 152
  4. Angel Garcia (1st FS / 1st GR) @ 170
  5. Jameel Coles (1st FS / 1st GR) @ 195
  6. Daishawn Tilghman (2nd GR) @ 220

Additionally, BTSP wrestlers had great success at the youth & middle school level. Below are the results for our young wrestlers:
Bantam

  1. Sanaa Rahming (3rd FS / 1st GR) @ 49

Novice

  1. Mark Effendian (2nd FS / 2nd GR) @ 135

Schoolboy

  1. Leo Petroski (3rd FS / 3rd GR) @ 125
  2. Bekhruz Navruzov (1st FS / 1st GR) @ 136
  3. Patrick Daly (3rd GR) @ 149

Lastly, Beat the Streets would like to thank all of the coaches who helped make this weekend possible! David James, JP Rosney, Mike Rahming, Tony Tolbert, Saviddin Navruzov, Khasha Mahdavi, & Ed Schneider. Also, we would like to thank coach Asror Mukhitdinov of Uzbekistan. Coach Asror is an internationally recognized wrestler & won this years’ Dave Schultz Classic!
Thank you to everyone who worked so hard all season long to provide kids with high-level wrestling experiences and a fun team environment to be a part of! In coming weeks, we’ll plan to do a ‘spotlight’ on each individual heading to Fargo this July so stay tuned!
Final results can be found below:
Freestyle
https://www.trackwrestling.com/opentournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&TIM=1558630311961&pageName=
 
Greco
https://www.trackwrestling.com/opentournaments/MainFrame.jsp?newSession=false&TIM=1558629823999&pageName=

May Program Update

Posted on by Dan Altomare

The past few weeks have been eventful here at Beat the Streets; to say the least. This past month alone, wrestlers traveled to New York City to wrestle in the Rumble on the River (hosted by BTS NY), to Chambersburg, PA to compete in the PAWF State Tournament, and participated in 2 freestyle/greco clinics hosted by BTSP! Below are just a few key highlights from each of these events!
The Rumble on the River was an absolutely incredible experience for the kids. Each year BTSNY wrestles a lineup against all other BTS programs in an exhibition format. This year, 3 BTSP wrestlers were selected to compete: Zimire Rice, Zaire Crawford, and Angel Garcia. Zimir and Zaire both won matches by TF, while Angel lost a close match to a tough opponent in Terrance Parks. Following the exhibition matches, the kids were invited to stay for the main event as Team USA took on Team Cuba! We were all very thankful to have had out kids included in the days events and want to congratulate Beat the Streets New York on running yet another fantastic event!
The following morning, 23 wrestlers traveled from Philadelphia to Chambersburg to compete in the PAWF Freestyle/Greco State Championships. At this arduous 3-day affair, the goal was simple; survive and advance. A top 3 finish at this tournament qualifies athletes for the Fargo National Championships, while a top 4 finish qualifies athletes for the PRTC. Everyone wrestled extremely tough and should be proud of their efforts this weekend. For many of our kids, this was their 1st season of freestyle/greco and it was very rewarding to see them grow. There’s so much young talent here, it’s going to be fun to watch the kids compete. For the 1st time in BTSP history, 5 members of Team PA will be members of our organization! With that said, we would like to congratulate & recognize the individuals who performanced exceptionally well this weekend:
2018 Fargo Qualifiers

  • Angel Garcia; 3rd FR, 1st GR
  • Tatyana Ortiz; 1st FR(W), 3rd GR
  • Zimir Rice; 2nd GR
  • Grigol Kochsivielli; 3rd GR
  • Steven Foster; *UWW NE Regional place winner

PRTC Qualifiers

  • Luis Morales; 4th GR
  • Jordan Tarlton; 4th GR
  • Jihad Phillips; 4th GR

2018 Youth Wrestling Medalists

  • Julie Ortiz; 3rd FR
  • Mark Effendian; 3rd FR, 2nd GR

In large part, what made the success at the state tournament possible was the support of the local wrestling community. On May 5th & 12th, BTSP hosted freestyle/greco clinics open to all at the PAL Center in Port Richmond. Wrestlers from the surrounding area were welcomed in to train with BTSP and learn from high-level clinicians. Chase Pami (PRTC), Garrett Hammond (DREX), & Coach Savi (CRS), were all very generous in giving up their time to show some great technique and help to prepare the kids to face elite competition. Not only are these individuals amazingly talented wrestlers, they’re fantastic role models for the kids to look up to.
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While all of this sounds like a lot of programming, there is still much more ahead of us. In just a few short weeks, BTSP will be preparing to send our 5 wrestlers to Fargo & a few others to wrestling camps. In order to support our kids in reaching their goals, we need your help.
This year, we’ve created a Summer Programming fund to support the programming our kids take part in over the next few months. If you have the capacity to give, your support will help kids travel to North Dakota and compete for a National Championship, travel to day camps sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania, and more.

Beat the Streets Philadelphia to be honored with Eagles

Posted on by BTSPhilly

May 3, 2018

Beat the Streets to be honored with Robert P. Levy Community Service Award; Kensington Soccer Club to be recognized as City of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Sports Volunteer of the Year
Super Bowl LII Champion Philadelphia Eagles To Be Recognized with 2018 John Wanamaker Athletic Award
 

Philadelphia (May 3, 2018) – For the first time in John Wanamaker Athletic Award history, the Philadelphia Eagles will be honored as a team for the organization’s accomplishments during this year’s unprecedented Super Bowl championship run. During a ceremony and luncheon at the Crystal Tea Room on June 11, the crowning achievement — bringing home the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the first time in Philadelphia history — will be celebrated as a moment of pride and positive attention for the city and region.
Since 1961, the John Wanamaker Athletic Award has highlighted athletes and teams that embody the spirit of Philadelphia during a given year. The award is presented by PHL Sports, a business development division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), in conjunction with Amerimar/Rubenstein Partners, CBS3 and the Philadelphia Daily News.
“On behalf of the Philadelphia Eagles, it is an honor to be recognized as this year’s recipient of the John Wanamaker Athletic Award,” said Eagles President Don Smolenski. “This is an award that will hold special significance for us because it symbolizes the bond that we share with the City of Philadelphia and our fans, and will serve as a reminder of what we were able to accomplish together this past season. We are also proud to be acknowledged alongside Beat the Streets and the Kensington Soccer Club, who are doing great work in our community and are very deserving of their awards.”
Promoting youth wrestling and keeping students on the path to athletic and academic success is the crux of Beat the Streets Philadelphia, this year’s Robert P. Levy Community Service Award winner. Founded in 2009, the program fosters the holistic development of student-athletes by providing access to resources and mentorship opportunities throughout the region. The nonprofit is apt for the award, which is bestowed upon an individual or organization that has done the most to “improve the quality of life in Philadelphia through sports.”

“We are continually amazed and inspired every time we reflect on the progress our student-athletes achieve in athletics and academics,” said Executive Director James Mangan. “The Robert P. Levy Community Service Award is validation of our program and the 10 years we have been working on ‘positively altering life’s trajectory’ for Philadelphia’s most deserving individuals.”
Also to be recognized during the luncheon will be Kensington Soccer Club, which will be receiving the sixth annual Sports Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by the City of Philadelphia’s Parks & Recreation department.
PHL Sports Chairman and Phillies Chairman David Montgomery commended the award recipients for their contributions.
“This past year was a spectacular one for the Philadelphia sports scene. Without a doubt, it was most impacted by the Eagles winning their first Super Bowl. Our entire region was captivated by their success, and they are incredibly worthy recipients of the 2018 Wanamaker Award.”
Montgomery added, “The Wanamaker ceremony provides us with the opportunity to salute the work of organizations making a huge difference for our city’s young people through sports, and we’re thrilled to recognize Beat the Streets and the Kensington Soccer Club this year.”
PHL Sports, Amerimar/Rubenstein Partners, CBS3 and the Philadelphia Daily News present the Wanamaker Athletic Award ceremony and luncheon. The public participated in the nomination process via ballots in the Philadelphia Daily News and online during April. The Wanamaker Selection Committee, consisting of a cross-section of sports and media representatives, made the final decision.
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PHL Sports, a business development division of the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau, seeks to attract major sporting events and conventions to the Philadelphia area. PHL Sports, working in conjunction with the City of Philadelphia, the city’s professional teams and universities, has attracted many events to the city and is currently working on bids for future sporting events. To learn more, visit discoverPHL.com/phlsports.

March Program Highlights

Posted on by Dan Altomare

NHSCA Nationals (March 22nd-24th)

After winter reared its’ ugly head (hopefully for the final time) here in Philadelphia, 14 BTSP wrestlers were more than excited to make the trip south to Virginia Beach for NHSCA Nationals. Congratulations are in order for all 14 wrestlers selected to attend; as decisions were made based on, commitment to academics, wrestling success, and recommendations from coaches:

  • Tatyana Ortiz-JR (106)
  • Jayshawn Copeland-FR (120)
  • Tyler Mangan-MS (120)
  • Aboubakare Diaby-FR (126)
  • Zamire Rice-SO (126)
  • Reynaldo Garcia (126)
  • Mike Rubino-SR (138)
  • Jarrod Johnson-JR (138)
  • Naseen Pennington-SO (145)
  • Lucien Anderson-JR(152)
  • Xavier Rivera-JR(152)
  • Angel Garcia-SR(160)
  • Daishawn Tilghman-SO (195)

From great wrestling, to late afternoons on the beach, and quality time with teammates/friends, this was a memorable weekend for sure! From a wrestling standpoint, particularly nice performances were had by Tatyana Ortiz, Angel Garcia, Naseen Pennington who each had some impressive wins throughout the weekend. While ultimately our kids fell short of the podium, the opportunity to wrestle on one of the biggest stages in the sport was an invaluable experience! Heading into freestyle season, we are all very optimistic about the wrestling that lies ahead.
Lastly, BTSP would like to thank the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) and Beat the Streets-National for playing an instrumental role in making this experience possible for our kids. Opportunities like this keep our kids motivated, focused, and open their eyes to the world of wrestling outside of Philadelphia. Final brackets can be found on FLOARENA.
 
USMC Leadership Academy (March 24th)
This past Saturday, nearly 100 Philadelphia-area high school wrestlers came out to South Philadelphia High School for a day of wrestling and instruction from the United States Marine Corps! Beat the Streets has worked in partnership with the Marine Corps for a couple of years now in an effort to educate our kids and help to prepare them for life beyond wrestling.
PRTC Head Coach Brandon Slay, PRTC athletes, & the Bethea brothers led the wrestling technique clinic, while the Marine Corps educated wrestlers on leadership and the career opportunities presented by the Marines.
Overall, this was an awesome experience for our kids and we look forward to continuing to partner with the USMC in the future! To learn more about the Marine Corps, and the opportunities they have available, visit their website here.
 
Girls Folkstyle National Championships (March 24th)

In our final recap of March programming, BTSP would send a BIG congratulations to Jasintai Malliqui (Novice-75lbs) for her 3rd place finish over the weekend as the Girls National Championships!
Jasintai (or “T” as her coaches call her) made us all especially proud after losing a tight 5-3 match to the eventual champion, Zoey Utterback, and then rattling off 4 STRAIGHT WINS to take 3rd place! It’s never easy to wrestle back at any level, but to do it in her 1st experience in the national spotlight is downright incredible. T and her family should be very proud of a great end to a fantastic season!
Final results for the Girls National Championships can be found on FLOARENA.

NE Regional Tournament Preview

Posted on by Dan Altomare

Thus far, the 2017-18 season has been a year of tremendous growth for the Philadelphia Public League! A record-high 29 PPL wrestlers will make the trip this weekend to Bethlehem Liberty High School to compete in the PIAA Northeast Regional Tournament. Congratulations to all PPL qualifiers; you continue to make us proud!
Below are just a few of the most interesting storylines headed into the weekend:
 
106lbs–Tatiyana Ortiz (MBA)

Two years ago, Ortiz broke through barriers in the sport of wrestling by becoming the first female district qualifier in PPL history. In 2015, her qualification forced the Philadelphia Catholic League to change rules that barred Catholic school wrestlers from competing against females. Since that point, girls wrestling in the city of Philadelphia has grown tremendously; a large part of that is to her credit.
Fast-forward to this season and Ortiz is continuing to have a substantial impact on the sport. This weekend, Ortiz will become the first female wrestler to compete in the PIAA NE Regional Tournament as she is slated to face off against Matt Mayer of Bethlehem Catholic in the prelims. It will be interesting to see if the Archdiocese of Allentown follows suit with Philadelphia. A change to this ruling could be yet another step in the right direction for women’s wrestling!
126lbs–Reynaldo Garcia (MBA) & Zamire Rice (OVB)
126 is a LOADED weight class in the NE Region; with 5 guys ranked inside the top #15 by PA Power Wrestling. Within the weight class, however are two underrated wrestlers from the Public League with a lot of talent. Garcia & Rice have gone back and forth this season and given each other some great matches. This postseason, in fact, Rice’s only 2 losses have come at the hands of Garcia. It will surely be a lot of fun to see these two young guns put their aggressive styles to the test.
138lbs–Mike Rubino (NE)
At the beginning of the season, Mike won an appeal for a 5th year of eligibility with the PIAA. In his final season of high school wrestling Mike has shined with a 33-6 record. After a 3rd place finish at the District XII Tournament, it will be interesting to see if Rubino can continue to make the most of his senior season.
152lbs–Lucien Anderson (CEN)
A regional qualifier in 2017, Anderson hopes to make his first trip to Hershey this season. He has cruised to league and district titles thus far, and we are now anxiously awaiting this weekend to see if he can get over the hump.
 
 
160lbs–Angel Garcia (MBA)
Angel finished 5th in the region last year, only one win away from qualifying for the state tournament. This offseason, Garcia has worked as hard as anyone to improve his skills; highlighted by a 3rd place finish in Greco-Roman at the Fargo National Championships. While Garcia has seldom been challenged in a match this season, this weekend will truly show where he stands amongst the elite in this weight class.
 
195lbs–Daishawn Tilghman (OVB)
As a freshman Tilghman made the most of his 5th seed at the regional tournament and went 2-2 at regionals. After qualifying for Fargo this summer and truly dedicating himself to the sport, things feel different this season. After winning the 1st district title in Overbrook history in absolutely dominating fashion, Tilghman is primed for another deep run. A trip to Hershey is undoubtedly within reach.
220lbs–Jameel Coles (NE)
Jameel has been nothing short of spectacular this season and his record speaks for itself. With an unblemished 37-0 record, he won league and district titles with seemingly relative ease. Coles will look to continue that dominance this weekend, against a far tougher field of opponents. How high can Coles climb on the podium? Only time will tell.
 
Once again, congratulations to all PPL regional qualifiers and congratulations to all PCL qualifiers as well. Let’s go District XII!
To follow this weekend’s action, brackets/updates can be found here.

Philadelphia Public League Championships 2017-18

Posted on by Dan Altomare

Anyone in attendance at South Philadelphia High School this past weekend for the Philadelphia Public League Championships could see it clearly; this a league that’s on the rise. This years’ championships featured 136 athletes (the highest number in almost two decades) and the crop of talent is vastly improved.
        At these championships, the greatest excitement was at the 126lb. final between Reynaldo Garcia (MBA) and James Clacks (GW). It was a nail biting 9-8 UTB victory for Garcia that won him the outstanding wrestler of the tournament. These two wrestlers absolutely put on a show and deservedly received a standing ovation from everyone in the audience.
Other notable champions included John Santiago (MBA), Daishawn Tilghman (OVB), Michael Rubino (NE), and Sami Kakar (NE); each of whom improved from their 3rd place finishes in 2017 to 1st place finished this year. Wrestling is a tough sport; you get out what you put in. These four wrestlers put in the work necessary get better this season and it will be fun to watch them this coming weekend!
The league not only celebrates athletic excellence, but outstanding service as well. Prior to the parade of champions, public league chairman Barry Strube took some time to recognize a few outstanding individuals. Larry Arata (GW) was awarded Coach of the Year title for making his athletes better wrestlers and better people. Christopher Mullins (FKD) received the Bud Lindholm award for his service and dedication to improving wrestling in Philadelphia.
And finally, an emotional Stephen Lebron (PLB) accepted the Larry Imgrund Award. A senior at 145lbs, Stephen is an extremely deserving recipient of this recognition. On the mat, Stephen is likely to graduate at the most decorated wrestler in Palumbo history. He is a 4x sectional place winner and 3x district place winner (2x finalist). His coaches tell us he is a clear leader to his teammates and someone underclassmen can look to for guidance. Off the mat, he is even more impressive. Stephen’s cross-country coach reached out last week to tell us about how Stephen helped a teammate with severe autism complete a cross-country course and compete in an event this past fall. His coach tells us that without Stephens’ help, the student he helped would’ve been unable to participate. This is just one of the many magnificent examples of the type of person Stephen is. After humbly accepting the award, Stephen went on to take home the title at 145lbs!
Congratulations to all those who competed this past weekend and thank you to everyone who helped to make it happen! This coming Saturday, the District XII Championships will take place at Archbishop Ryan High School.
To follow the action online or to view bracket information, click here.
More photos from the Public League Championships can be found here.

January Wrestler of the Month – Kenneth Purvis

Posted on by BTSPhilly

Each month, Beat the Streets Philadelphia recognizes one student-athlete as ‘Wrestler of the Month.’ Selections are made based on recommendations from coaches, mentors, and/or BTS staff. For January, we have selected Kenneth Purvis of Frankford High School!
Executive Director, James Mangan spent some time with Kenny just before the start of the featured match of the month; Frankford at South Philadelphia. Audio from this interview can be found at the bottom of this article.
Kenny, a senior at Frankford High School and Juniata resident has a positive energy that is a pleasure to be around. His 6 foot tall, 270 lb frame is naturally balanced with a smile that never fades. When speaking with him it is obvious he has a positive outlook on life. Considering the things Kenny has to overcome on a daily basis, his personality is an inspiration.

“It’s a hard neighborhood, so we all go through a lot”

Kenny comes off as a natural leader amongst his peers. It would make sense that his favorite class offered at Frankford is Peer Group Connection taught by Mrs. Damond. Having that support system in the school encouraged Kenny to be active in other ways, including improving his own physical health. Kenny met former Mariana Bracetti Academy wrestler and current Beat the Streets mentor Edwin Morales three years ago at the same neighborhood gym. It is there that Kenny was motivated by Edwin to begin wrestling. As a 10th grader Kenny was 40 lbs heavier than the maximum weight class, but that didn’t discourage him. The nature of wrestling challenges individuals both physically and mentally helping many achieve goals otherwise thought to be impossible.

“I lost a total of 5o pounds, I feel a lot better.”

On the year, Kenny is undefeated in the Public League, more impressive is his commitment to success in the classroom. Kenny plans to finish this marking period with second honors. Frankford’s Head Coach Joe Farina understands the importance of putting academics first. That message is reinforced at every wrestling practice as part of a holistic development philosophy. Upon graduation Kenny has his eye’s set on attending Brightwood Career institute to pursue a career as an electrician. It is clear Kenny knows where he is going, but he admits there is still some unfinished business on the mat as a senior…

“I want to make it to States, I want to go all the way in my last year!”

If you would like to contribute to Beat the Streets and help to create more opportunities for kids like Kenneth Purvis, you can visit our Donate Now page here. If you would like to consider giving in other ways, either as a mentor or wrestling coach, please fill out one of our interest forms and we’ll be in touch!
Audio from the interview:

High School Wrestling Season Has Started!

Posted on by BTSPhilly

The PIAA 2017-2018 wrestling season officially starts today! Out of the 15 Public League teams in District XII, 13 receive direct support from Beat the Streets Philadelphia. An estimated 400 BTSP student-athletes will step on the mat in the month of November. Approximately 20% of those students will routinely visit our Mentoring Center for academic support, one on one near pear mentoring, as well as workshops specific to SAT prep, college enrollment, and leadership development.
Beat the Streets Philadelphia provides the resources necessary to grow the sport of wrestling in under resourced neighborhoods through out the Philadelphia region. Through the sport of wrestling, student-athletes develop valuable character traits such as, discipline, resilience, dedication, delayed gratification, teamwork, individual accountability, and an overall commitment to excellence. The lessons learned on the mat regularly spill over into the classroom. Teacher and Parents alike report notable improvements in wrestlers attendance, behavior, and performance.
As the season moves forward there are some competitions on the calendar worth recognizing.

  • Friday 12/08: Five BTSP teams competing at the New Hope-Solebury Tournament
  • Wednesday 12/20: Rematch of last years Public League Championship, Central at Northeast
  • Saturday 1/27: Central HS hosts the Lancer Invitational.
  • Saturday 2/3: Martin Luther King hosts the Cougar Duals

We encourage you to support these programs by attending competitions or by making a tax deductible contribution through our donate now portal. More than 60% off the total funding for these HS programs come from Beat the Streets Philadelphia. Without your support these student-athletes would not have the opportunity to wrestle.