NEW YORK, May 12, 2016 – Beat the Streets is pleased to announce that it will be featuring matches between highly accomplished student-athletes from New York City and visitors from Baltimore and Philadelphia at its annual gala on Thursday, May 19 in Times Square. The gala is Beat the Streets’ annual fundraiser that helps provide wrestling equipment and opportunities to 3,000 kids across the five boroughs every year. The youth match-ups will be held starting at 3:45 PM, before the world-class wrestling matches between members of Team USA and top international competitors from Iran, Canada, and South Korea.

The competitors represent a diverse selection of the student-athletes from New York City, Baltimore, and Philadelphia:

Shamelle Sinclaire, 7th grade, Riverdale Ave. School, Brooklyn, will be wrestling against Tiarra Andrews, 7th grade, The Philadelphia School, Beat the Streets Philadelphia. Sinclaire is the City Champion at the 136 lb weight class, winning first place at the 2015 Girls Junior League Championship by two pins. Andrews is a Philadelphia Youth Wrestling Day Place Winner and a member of the second-year wrestlers. She is a strong student as well.

Shamella Sinclaire, 8th grade, Riverdale Ave. School, Brooklyn, will be competing against Jailyn Reedy, 8th grade, Morrell Park Elementary/Middle School, Beat the Streets Baltimore. The sister of the aforementioned Shamelle, Sinclaire won the 2015 Girls Junior League Championship by two pins, becoming the champion at the 152 lb weight class. Reedy is an honor roll student at Morrell Park and plays multiple sports. She wants to continue wrestling in high school and in college.

Jack Reusing, 8th grade, Robert Fulton (MS 8), Brooklyn, will be going up against Clement Woods, 7th grade, Parkville Middle School, Beat the Streets Baltimore. Reusing came in second place in the BTS Middle School Championships, being defeated only by fellow Beat the Streets competitor Jayden Cardenas by a 6-4 decision. Woods is an honor student at Parkville Middle School. He currently wrestles for the McKim Center in Baltimore where he won the 2016 Maryland State Championship. He enjoys playing football and averages two touchdowns per game. He dreams of going to college in Florida.

Jayden Cardenas, 8th grade, Upper Ten Eyck (MS 582), Brooklyn, will be competing with Kyree Brisco, 8th grade, Southwest Academy, Beat the Streets Baltimore. Cardenas is the City Champion at the 128 lb weight class, winning a close match against fellow Beat the Streets competitor Jack Reusing. Briscoe is 13 years old and attends Southwest Academy. He currently wrestles with the Woodlawn Wolfpack wrestling team. He has wrestled for the past 7 years. He enjoys wrestling and football. He has four siblings, enjoys family vacations, and attends church every Sunday. Briscoe wants to be an NFL player when he graduates college.

Joe Perez, 8th grade, Kappa IV, Manhattan is set to face Angel Garcia, 8th grade, Mariana Bracetti Academy, Beat the Streets Philadelphia. Perez came in second place in the BTS Middle School Championships in the competitive 152 lb weight class. Garcia is the Philadelphia Youth Wrestling Day Champion and a two-time Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling State Champion. She was a runner-up in the Pennsylvania Schoolboy Freestyle competition. She is also an honor roll student and a member of the BTS Philly Mentoring Program.

Demitrius Henry, 10th grade, Grand Street, Brooklyn, will contend against Josh Laubach, 10th grade, Archbishop Curley High School, Beat the Streets Baltimore. Henry is the City Champion at the 145 lb weight class, having beaten his opponent in the final by a close 3-2 decision. Laubach is a two-time state placer and a National Prep All-American. His hobbies include coaching junior league wrestling teams, collecting vintage wrestling shoes and eating. He wants to win a state championship, the Beast of the East and National Prep championships. After high school, Laubach wants go to a Division I college for wrestling and earn a degree in education.

Jake Barry, 12th grade, Poly Prep Country Day School, Brooklyn, will face Ron Palmer, 12th grade, Mariana Bracetti Academy, Beat the Streets Philadelphia. Barry is a two-time All-American recipient and a National Finalist with over 100 career wins. He and will be going on to wrestle at Stanford at the 157/165 lb weight classes. Palmer is a three-time Sectional Champion and two-time District Champion. He placed sixth at the PIAA Northeast Regionals. Palmer is also a member of the BTS Philly Mentoring Program and will be attending Kutztown University.

Simon Chee, 11th grade, Benjamin Cardozo, Queens, will compete with Edwin Morales, 12th grade, Mariana Bracetti Academy, Beat the Streets Philadelphia. Chee is the PSAL City Champion at the 182 lb weight class, winning his final match in the tournament with a pin. He has a current record of 28-4. Morales is a two-time Sectional Champion and a two-time District Champion. He was a runner-up at the PIAA Northeast Regionals and placed in the top twelve at both the PIAA AAA State Championships and the NHSCA Senior Nationals. He is also a member of the BTS Philly Mentoring Program.

Dylan Nerich, 10th grade, W.C. Bryant, Queens, will go up against Miles Lee, 11th grade, Mariana Bracetti Academy, Beat the Streets Philadelphia. Nerich is the PSAL City Champion at the 195 lb weight class, having won an upset victory over the returning city champion by a 4-3 decision. Lee is a Sectional Champion and a District Champion. He was a runner-up at the PIAA Northeast Regionals and received third place at the Pennsylvania Freestyle States. He is also a member of the BTS Philly Mentoring Program.

The Beat the Streets gala is an annual fundraiser to support New York City student-athletes, having previously been hosted in such iconic locations as Times Square and Grand Central Terminal. The gala helps provide wrestling equipment and opportunities to 3,000 kids across the five boroughs every year. This year’s celebration, “United in the Square,” will see some of America’s top wrestlers, including Jordan Burroughs and Adeline Gray, going up against world-class competition from Iran, Canada, and South Korea. The gala begins at 3:45 PM on Thursday, May 19 with exhibition matches featuring young wrestlers from NYC before the world-class wrestling matches begin at 6:00 PM. Tickets for seating in Times Square and attendance at the post-match reception are available on the Beat the Streets website. The event will be streaming live on FloWrestling.

About Beat the Streets
The mission of Beat the Streets is to develop the full human and athletic potential of the urban youth and to strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTSW works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to help New York City's student-athletes achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTSW and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life skills of physical fitness, teamwork, and self-empowerment. The goal of fostering strong, dedicated, and optimistic kids is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, and summer camps.