Windy City Stars Come Out on Top

Beat the Streets Chicago hosted "sister city" Beat the Streets teams as well as other traveling teams on May 31 and June 1 for the "Beat the Streets National Duals." After a day of friendly yet fierce competition, Chicago came out on top, securing the team trophy.

Teams traveled to Chicago from Detroit, Waukegan and Indianapolis, bringing mostly high school-age wrestlers who compete locally, regionally and nationally. This was the second year Beat the Streets Chicago hosted the event.

Held this year at Phoenix Military Academy in Chicago, the weekend also featured a top-notch clinic Friday night at Chicago Hope Academy. Cuban National Champ Alex Pons ran the Friday night clinic and practice for Chicago and visiting wrestlers alike. The athletes had an opportunity to get to know each other off the mat at at pizza party following Friday's night's practice.

Beat the Streets Chicago was formed in 1994 as an opportunity for city youth to engage in wrestling. Since then, independent Beat the Streets organizations have formed in multiple cities across the US and Canada. The independent organizations work together as a coalition of wrestling-focused sports-based youth development nonprofits, affiliated through membership in the Beat the Streets National organization.