2025 South Bay League Ends the Season on a High Note

November 7th marked an exciting and memorable day to end our 2025 Fall BTS BA South Bay League, held in partnership with the Evergreen School District.

We were thrilled to welcome 85 young wrestlers, many competing in their very first sports tournament ever!

2025 K.Smith Team

Warm-Ups

The afternoon began calmly as wrestlers arrived at Quimby Middle School in San Jose, preparing for their final tournament of the season.
After finishing their hour-long study session, they gathered on the three mats and began warm-ups led by Coach Sergio Hernandez, head coach for Holly Oak and Evergreen. His leadership and strong relationship with the teams helped ease their nerves and build excitement for the competition ahead.

Following stretches and jogging, Program Assistant Jaden Abas joined Coach Sergio to lead a short “mini-clinic,” refreshing wrestlers on key techniques and lessons they’ve learned throughout the past two months. This refresh helped give wrestlers the confidence they needed to get on the mat later in the day. 

The four participating teams, Holly Oak, O.B. Whaley, K. Smith, and Evergreen, showed impressive focus and determination. Between drills, you could hear murmurs and whispers of  encouragement shared between the wrestlers, helping each other shake off nerves and get mentally ready to compete.

Matches Begin

At 3:00 p.m. sharp, BTS BA staff and Evergreen coaches kicked off the tournament with introductions and a special appearance by EJ Parco and Grigor Cholakyan from Stanford University. They shared advice and encouragement with the wrestlers before matches began across all three mats.

As the competition got underway, parents and friends filled the gym with cheers and support, creating an atmosphere buzzing with excitement and positivity.

Even in the face of tough matches, coaches provided steady guidance-helping athletes channel their emotions and turn challenges into learning moments. 

Our Stanford guests also took time to mentor wrestlers, emphasizing the importance of experience, perseverance, and seeing failure as a key part of growth.

Closing Moments

After three hours filled with pure wrestling, the final matches wrapped up and the award ceremony began. Smiles, claps, and cheers filled the gym as each wrestler proudly stepped forward to receive their medal.

We ended the day with a big group photo and heartfelt thanks to our dedicated South Bay coaches: Sergio Hernandez, Fabiola Gonzalez, Tien Mai, DeAnte Whitman, Eleni Fakaosi, and Amber Schneider. Their leadership, passion, and dedication to making the most of the time  with their teams, resulting in exceptional programs. 

After refueling with some well-deserved pizza, our wrestlers headed home, marking the close of the 2025 South Bay Elementary League season! 

Looking ahead, BTS BA hopes to continue serving Evergreen and San Jose youth through future community programs, clinics, and other opportunities to grow through wrestling.

A special thank you to all our South Bay Elementary League coaches and to the Evergreen School District for their ongoing enthusiasm and support.

We’re excited for what’s next in our partnership with Evergreen and the greater San Jose community.

From the Bay to the Mat: Final Clinic at San Francisco State University

San Francisco State University set the stage for our final clinic of the series, bringing together 60 wrestlers from across the Bay Area to discover new skills, build connections, and envision what’s possible beyond the mat. Students traveled from Tracy, Vallejo, Hercules, San Francisco, Daly City, and South San Francisco, filling the gym with excitement and curiosity.

The day began with the Beyond the Mat activity, giving wrestlers time to reflect on what wrestling means to them. Many shared that the sport has given them confidence, helped them find belonging, and taught them how to persevere through challenges.

Afterward, the group explored the SFSU campus with three student-athletes from the university’s wrestling team: Felipe De Matos, Isaiah Alvarez, and Zach Wright. Isaiah, a former BTS Los Angeles athlete, was especially excited to give back and guide the younger wrestlers. Together, the SFSU team led the group through study spaces, hangout spots, and key student resources such as the health center and recreation facilities. Along the way, they answered questions about college life and shared personal insights on balancing academics and athletics.

For many participants, this was their first time on a college campus. Seeing student-athletes who once stood where they are now made the idea of college feel real and attainable. You could see their faces light up with determination.

Once the tour ended, it was time to get back on the mat. Stanford All-American and Beat the Streets Bay Area Program Assistant Jaden Abas led the clinic, beginning with warm-ups and transitioning into drills that focused on low singles, staggered stances, and funk wrestling, along with a playful Rock Paper Scissors World Championship. The wrestlers stayed focused and engaged, cheering one another on throughout the session.

The day closed with a fun rock-paper-scissors challenge that filled the room with laughter. Before heading out, we celebrated our Beyond the Mat Award winners, recognizing their growth and the powerful reflections they shared about how wrestling continues to shape their lives.

Thank you to San Francisco State University, Jadan Abas, our volunteer wrestlers Felipe, Isaiah, and Zach, and everyone who made this event possible. This clinic was more than just an opportunity to learn new techniques. It gave students a glimpse of what their futures could look like and reminded them that through wrestling, they are building not only strength, but opportunity.

This clinic wrapped up the first-ever series of Beat the Streets Bay Area: From the Bay to the Mat Clinics which brought together many young wrestlers from across the bay area throughout the fall. Each event was a chance for students to learn something new, meet mentors who inspire them, and find a community within. We’re so proud of everything they’ve accomplished and can’t wait to bring the series back in Spring 2026 to keep creating these moments of growth and connection.