NEWS
Spring 2024 Oakland Middle School League Capstone Event Recap!
This week, we are excited to share the recap of our Oakland Middle School Spring League Final Tournament!
May 18th was a day of excitement at McClymonds High School in Oakland, where we hosted our Oakland Spring League Final Tournament. This event concluded the 10-week Oakland Middle School Spring Season, involving students from Edna Brewer, Montera, Elmhurst, and Bret Harte Middle Schools.
Match Nights
During the season, we were happy to host 4 match nights at Edna Brewer Middle School, in which each match night prepared every single one of our wrestlers to improve their skills, befriend one another, and get a taste of the wrestling world.
The First Capstone Since 2022
This event has been the first capstone we’ve hosted for our Oakland Spring League since 2022. Our wrestlers showed up bright and early at McClymonds High School, ready to showcase the skills they’ve developed over the last 10 weeks. Each wrestler engaged in 2-3 matches of 3, 1 minute periods- eager to win the first place medals to reward their efforts from the season.
New and Familiar Faces on the Mat
For some, such as Michah Nance and Nate Brody, it is their third and final year as a BTSBA youth, showcasing how far they’ve come in their wrestling journey as they continue onward to high school.
For others, such as Gabriel Carrasco, Addison Rowe, Tysean Kelley, and Ivie Williams, it is their first time wrestling- and they showed their remarkable progress on the mat, marking a great start of their wrestling journey.
Coaches in Action
During this event, we got to see the support, dedication, and determination of the coaches to help their wrestlers improve and be the best they can be on the mat. It is great to see how far they have come with their teams and the relationships that have developed in the past 10 weeks.
Bringing Families Together
We were happy to see the different faces of family and friends that came together to show their wrestlers support and energy for the day. Without their attendance, we would not have the high energy that they provided to motivate our wrestlers and show some support to them during their tough matches.
Board Members
BTSBA extends a thank you to all the board members who attended, supported, and assisted our staff, coaches, and wrestlers in ensuring the final tournament ran smoothly. Your presence and efforts were invaluable to the success of the event. A special thank you goes to Robby Smith for his work in managing TrackWrestling during the tournament!
Fueling Up
At the end of the tournament, our Executive Director John Lange, announced 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners - giving some final energy for the young wrestlers to continue onward as they waited for their name to be called. This final leg of the tournament brought together all four teams, cheering each other on as they were rewarded for their hard work, dedication, and motivation.
After a long morning of wrestling, our incredible Development Director, Ellen Tillman, brought a delicious spread of Crumble Cookies, pizza, and refreshing drinks for everyone present! The atmosphere was energetic as our wrestlers, their families, and friends gathered around, enjoying the treats and each other’s company- celebrating the end of the school year and a fantastic season. We couldn’t be happier to see everyone leaving with full stomachs and happy memories!
Our Future
While we continue within Oakland this summer with AimHigh, we hope that this experience will serve as a catalyst, inspiring our middle school athletes to continue in the world of athletics and wrestling, knowing it is a place of community and support.
As an organization, BTSBA is focused on continuing to raise funds, support, and donors to continue providing programming that changes the lives of youth in the Bay. We would like to express this gratitude to everyone who made this season possible, including volunteers, parents, supporters, and our extremely valued coaches.
We hope to see you at our Comedy for a Cause event on June 7th, to fundraise and show support for our youth!
““We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.””
From the Desk of the Executive Director
Dear Beat The Streets Bay Area Supporters,
We have wrapped up the 2024 Spring League in partnership with the Oakland Athletic League, and what a season it was! The students from Edna Brewer, Montera, Bret Harte, and Elmhurst Middle Schools brought incredible intensity to each competition. Watching them wrestle during the four competition nights at Edna Brewer, leading up to the League Championships at McClymonds High School, was truly inspiring. Every one of our kids gave their all this season and made us proud. I can't wait to see what next season brings.
We cannot thank our coaches enough for their dedication to the Beat The Streets Bay Area wrestlers. Special thanks to Jaimel Hemphill, Marcus Leon, Joanna Mack, and Jake Runge for leading the charge at their respective schools. Additionally, a heartfelt thank you to Will Taylor Sr., Freddie Lee Hurt Jr., and Ramsey Wilson el-Sokkary for going above and beyond as assistant coaches. Without all of our coaches, this season would not have been a success. Thank you!
We are now a little over two weeks away from our Annual Celebration—Comedy for a Cause—on June 7th at the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco. This evening of laughter and fellowship is all for the benefit of our kids, and we hope you'll join us. Tickets are still available. For more information, visit our website or check out Comedy for a Cause.
We are also partnering with Aim High to offer summer wrestling programs in Oakland and San Francisco. This collaboration will allow students to experience wrestling and learn valuable life skills. We're thrilled to expand into San Francisco and offer this opportunity to a new group of kids. To learn more, visit our website or check out BTSBA/Aim High.
Stay connected with us through our website and social media for the latest news and updates. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your continued support. Together, we're making a difference in the lives of these young athletes.
Warm regards,
John Lange
Executive Director
Beat The Streets Bay Area