Building Confidence Through Wrestling: From the Bay to the Mat with Nico Provo

On Friday, April 3, more than 60 kids showed up for our Free Clinic Series: From the Bay to the Mat at Fremont High School led by Stanford Wrestling Division I All-American, Nico Provo. The clinic brought together wrestlers of all ages from Sunnyvale Wrestling Club and Fremont High School.

Before the clinic began, wrestlers took part in our Beyond the Mat activity, where they wrote about what wrestling means to them. For many, it was the first time they had been asked to put their passion into words. Wrestlers shared that the sport has helped them build confidence and discipline, while others spoke about finding community and belonging. Their responses offered a glimpse into the impact wrestling has on their lives beyond competition.

Associate Director of Operations Olivia Olmedo opened the session with a brief introduction to Beat the Streets Bay Area and its mission to empower youth through wrestling before introducing Stanford Wrestling Division I All-American Nico Provo. Nico thanked the athletes for dedicating their Friday night to the sport and quickly transitioned into the mat session. After warm-ups, the group moved into focused drilling, where he taught two techniques: the low double to leg lace and the hip tip from defense. Stanford Wrestling athletes Tye Monteiro and Edwin Sierra supported throughout, demonstrating techniques and working hands-on with wrestlers across the room during the full 90-minute session.

What stood out most was the balance of strong focus and high-energy enthusiasm. With freestyle tournaments approaching later this month, the wrestlers demonstrated clear determination and commitment in their preparation.

Nico closed the session with a Q&A, where athletes asked thoughtful questions covering a diverse range of subjects, from the college application process from an athlete’s perspective to generating power on the mat. One question stood out: “How do you find your confidence in wrestling?”

Nico responded by sharing his personal journey. He started the sport at a young age and developed grit, motivation, and drive along the way. Wrestling, he emphasized, isn’t easy—and that’s exactly what makes it meaningful.

The clinic concluded with the Beyond the Mat Award, presented to a young wrestler who spoke about the friendships she’s built through wrestling and how those relationships have shaped her life. Sunnyvale Wrestling Club also gifted each participant a signed poster from Nico, and athletes left with new skills and a renewed sense of confidence on the mat.

More than 60 athletes walked in on a Friday night. They trained with a Stanford Wrestling All-American, asked real questions, and left with tools they can carry into every practice and competition.

We’re excited to keep the momentum going, build on what these athletes have started, and continue creating high-level opportunities for growth, learning, and inspiration on the mat. Next stop: Redwood City at Sequoia High School, where we’ll be joined by Stanford All-American Tyler Knox on April 25.

From the Bay to the Mat: Spring Series Kicks Off Strong at Lincoln High School

We kicked off our spring From the Bay to the Mat series on March 28 at Abraham Lincoln High School in San Francisco. The clinic was led by Beat the Streets Bay Area Associate Program Assistant and Division I All-American wrestler Jaden Abas, who led the session and demonstrated key defensive techniques. More than 35 wrestlers from Lincoln High School, Riordan High School, and the surrounding area showed up ready to train.

We opened with our Beyond the Mat activity, where wrestlers stepped up to share why they love the sport and what it means to them beyond competing. They spoke about the discipline and resilience wrestling demands, and the strong sense of community and belonging they’ve found through their teams.

Our Associate Director of Operations, Olivia Olmedo, then introduced the organization and provided an overview of our mission, upcoming opportunities, and the purpose behind these clinics, which is to provide free access to high-level training while creating opportunities for wrestlers to learn, grow, and build community in the Bay Area.

Jaden Abas led the technical portion of the clinic, centering the session on freestyle wrestling. He broke things down into five core defensive concepts he emphasizes in his training: strong head position, the down block, the sprawl, far-foot defense, and the Abas roll. As he moved through each position, he slowed the room down to focus on the details—positioning, timing, and execution—challenging wrestlers to be intentional with every rep and begin developing their own style.

As each technique was introduced, wrestlers took turns stepping in to demonstrate what they had learned. The room stayed active as athletes asked questions, made adjustments on the fly, and worked through each rep with purpose.

We closed the clinic with a game that tested reaction time and reinforced key concepts from the training, including positioning, motion, and creativity. Wrestlers partnered up to play Shoulder Tag, where each athlete worked to create an opening to tag their opponent’s shoulder while hand-fighting.

As a closing ceremony, we returned to our Beyond the Mat reflection board and recognized one wrestler whose response stood out, awarding them a prize for their thoughtful effort and the way they represented their community.

We’re grateful for the support from parents, student-athletes, and mentors who made this clinic possible. It was a strong start to the series and we look forward to our future training: Sequoia High School in Redwood City with Tyler Knox and in Oakland with Daniel Cardenas.