2026 Beat the Streets Bay Area Oakland Middle School Wrestling League Capstone Tournament

Program Coordinator Olivia Olmedo shares the BTSBA mission, recaps the 2026 Oakland Spring Wrestling League, and previews the final Capstone tournament.

The energy inside the Oakland High School Gymnasium was electric as Beat the Streets Bay Area wrapped up its Oakland Middle School Wrestling League season with our final Capstone Tournament, celebrating a great season of growth, community, and opportunity through wrestling.

The day began bright and early with athletes weighing in at 9:30 AM as wrestlers, coaches, and volunteers filled the gym with excitement and anticipation. With over 40 participants competing throughout the day, the Capstone Tournament represented a culmination of months of hard work from our youth wrestlers across Oakland.

Before matches began, BTSBA welcomed everyone with opening remarks focused on community, sportsmanship, and the mission behind the league. Referees addressed the athletes, coaches shared motivating words with their teams, and the gym quickly transformed into a space filled with encouragement, energy, and pride.

BTSBA also hosted a pre-tournament clinic led by Stanford wrestlers Daniel Cardenas, Lorenzo Norman, and Tye Monteiro. The athletes guided participants through warm-ups, spin drills, single-leg finishes, and high-crotch techniques finishing with a Q and A answering questions from the youth wrestlers. Beyond technique, they shared words of motivation and spoke about discipline, opportunity, and the importance of believing in yourself both on and off the mat. To cap off the clinic, All-American Dan Cardenas stayed afterward to sign autographs and spend time with the youth wrestlers, creating memories many of the kids will carry with them for years to come.

At 11:00 AM, the whistles blew and the competition officially began.

Throughout the day, teammates rallied around one another with cheers echoing throughout the gym. Coaches gave instruction and encouragement while families watched nervously but proudly from the sidelines, hanging onto every scramble, takedown, and near fall. The atmosphere captured exactly what youth sports are all about: competition, determination, support, and connection.

The tournament would not have been possible without the incredible support of volunteers and community members. Special thank you to BTSBA Board Member Robby Smith, who helped serve as Tournament Director and played a major role in organizing the event. We also want to recognize Juana Juarez from our DSAL program in Hayward for volunteering her time helping move mats and assist with table operations throughout the tournament. Photo credits go out to BTSBA Board Member Dustin Tillman.

After a full day of wrestling, athletes were recognized with medals and celebrated together with pizza and community fellowship.

Beat the Streets Bay Area would also like to extend a sincere thank you to the Oakland Athletic League and Oakland Unified School District for their continued partnership and support of youth wrestling opportunities in Oakland.

Most importantly, thank you to every coach, volunteer, parent, official, and athlete who made this season special. From the loud whistles of referees, to the intensity of competition, to the celebration of wins with teammates, the Capstone Tournament showcased the power of wrestling to bring communities together and create meaningful experiences for Oakland youth.