WrestlingIQ is our registration system that allows families and wrestlers to register for seasons, tournaments, special events and enrichment events. It also serves as a communication tool - coaches use it to send messages to their teams. When first registering, you will create an account for yourself, the parent or guardian, and also an account for your wrestlers. Then you can select seasons, sign waivers, apply scholarship codes as needed, pay via credit card if necessary and review our waivers. View tutorial!
Yes. USA Wrestling (USAW) is the governing body for wrestling across the US and provides athletic injury insurance to all competitors. No wrestler or adult is permitted on the mat without a valid USAW card. Cards are valid September 1 through August 31, after which you must reapply.
USAW cards are provided free to all BTSC wrestlers (a $55 value) when the register in our WIQ system. You do not need to register separately through USAW. Adults interested in helping out on the mat must apply as a coach and obtain a USAW card through that process.
Wrestlers who will turn 18 during the "wrestling year" (Sep 1 - Aug 31) will need to complete a SafeSport child safety module as part of the USAW membership registration process. USAW cards are valid until Aug 31 and must be renewed to start wrestling (or coaching) again on Sep 1.
Every state has its own governing body for the official winter youth wrestling season, all under the auspices of the USA Wrestling. The Illinois Kids Wrestling Federation (IKWF) is the body that manages youth wrestling for Illinois . They facilitate regular season tournaments & orchestrate the IKWF postseason state series in late February. In addition, wrestlers who "qualify for Fargo" compete in that prestigious tournament as members of "Team Illinois" which also is affiliated with IKWF.
Beat the Streets Chicago is the largest IKWF youth club in Illinois, with hundreds of youth competing in IKWF tournaments throughout the winter season.
We believe that wrestling should be accessible to all youth. Scholarships and fee discounts are available to anyone who needs some assistance. Talk to your coach to get a discount code that you will input during the registration process to eliminate or reduce the fee charged. If you are new, please email Coach Patrick Martinez for information.
Even if you receive a full fee waiver, you still must register through the wrestling IQ system to reserve your spot.
Yes. Beginners are welcome at all ages. Coaches will pair wrestlers of similar size and experience levels during practice. Coaches will advise wrestlers interested in tournament competition which tournaments are rookie-friendly and which tournaments are better suited for more experienced wrestlers.
We practice in t-shirts, athletic shorts, wrestling shoes and headgear. Beginners are welcome to wrestle in socks prior to investing in wrestling shoes. Headgear, shoes and Beat the Streets Chicago logo'd shirts are available for sale at our Midway location. Or you can speak with your Coach who can bring gear to your location. Gear is also for sale at our hosted tournaments. You may also purchase wrestling shoes online or at some sports equipment retailers.
Wrestlers should compete in singlets. We have BTSC team singlets available for use at most tournaments, which we collect at the end of the day. From time to time, singlets are available for purchase - look for information from your Coach. (CPS SCORE! wrestlers do not need singlets to compete - wrestlers compete in t-shirts and athletic shorts.)
From time to time, we receive donations of gently-used wrestling shoes from college programs. Coaches will make announcements when shoes become available.
We also often have sports bras for girls. Contact Coach Sammie.
Absolutely! Girls Wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the US and Women's Programs are being added at the collegiate level at a tremendous pace. Beat the Streets Chicago has the largest girls program in Illinois, welcoming girls of all ages and experience levels.
Our Tikes and Youth Programs are co-ed, although we match girls against girls during practices and live wrestling as best we can based on size and experience. The girls in our more-experienced youth levels and our high school levels may warm-up with the boys or learn technique during clinics, but practice and wrestle separately.
For more information about Girls Wrestling, contact Coach Samantha Barrientos.
Possibly. We have two vans that we use to pick up wrestlers after school and get them to our After School Centers, where they can do homework and be with friends in the time between school and when wrestling practice begins. We also are able to take some wrestlers home when practice ends (8pm). The vans also are used to take wrestlers to tournaments and on field trips.
We do our best to help families solve transportation challenges. Email Enrichment Coordinator Leila Cleofe and we will work with you.
We have a few different kinds of Enrichment Programs: (1) formal programs requiring application or registration, like Life Champions Academy, (2) special field trips and events that you can register for on this page or through links sent to you by email or text from your Coach, (3) drop-in centers, like the After School Centers, where wrestlers can work on homework between school and when wrestling practice begins, and (4) individual assistance working one on one with our Enrichment team leaders or coaches. Keep an eye on this page to register for Special Events.
Apply for Life Champions in August through the link on the Life Champions Academy page.
Keep an eye on this page or the Calendar for Special Events announcements.
Check your location to see if it has an After School Center and simply drop in. Or, email Coach Adam for more information.
Contact Coach Leila if you have specific questions, want to arrange tutoring, or need particular assistance that is not described here.
Most of our Enrichment Programs are free and offered to our wrestlers as optional opportunities. If there is a small fee, it will be listed in the registration link. If we recommend that the wrestlers bring spending money to a field trip or travel experience, that will be communicated by the Coach.
Yes. We believe that wrestling + enrichment = impact. Our Enrichment programs are designed to complement wrestling programming and are offered as an opportunity to registered Beat the Streets Chicago wrestlers only.
Contact Coach Leila Cleofe, our Enrichment Coordinator at lcleofe@btschicago.org
Yes. The CPS SCORE! program is an intramural program for CPS students in grades 5 through 8. The program is co-sponsored by Chicago Public Schools and hosted at CPS locations.
Yes. Any CPS student may register for wrestling at any of the available sites. Although most students wrestle at their home school or a nearby school some wrestlers' families find it convenient to wrestler at a different location. Once you register at a particular site, you are a member of that team. You cannot practice at multiple sites for different teams.
Families are responsible for transporting their students from school or home to whichever site they choose to wrestle at.
Yes. Most SCORE! wrestlers' are new to wrestling. Wrestlers of all sizes and and skill levels are welcome. We emphasize physical literacy, movement, and fun.
There are friendly inter-school competitions on Saturdays, culminating in the CPS SCORE! Championship on the final Saturday of the season. The competitions are optional, but part of the fun. If you cannot make all of them, that's okay - but try not to miss the final Championship! Competitions start around 9am and typically conclude midday. Families are welcome however students are picked up and dropped off at their practice site to ensure that everyone has transportation to the competition.
SCORE! Wrestling is free. Wrestlers receive a t-shirt at no cost. Headgear and shoes are available to borrow or purchase. Wrestlers practice and compete in t-shirts, loose shorts and socks or wrestling shoes, if they have them. Singlets at competition are optional.
CPS provides school buses for wrestlers to get to from their school practice site to the tournament site and back on Saturday mornings.
Absolutely. 20-25% of CPS SCORE! wrestlers are girls - and that number is growing!
Yes! Spring Season Wrestling at Beat the Streets Chicago is open to all CPS SCORE! students who want to continue wrestling after the end of the SCORE! season, Your coach will have details.