Coming Full Circle: From BTSLA Athlete to Leader of the Year
Ten years after first joining Beat the Streets Los Angeles as a 12-year-old wrestler, John Islas has been named BTSLA’s first-ever Leader of the Year, recognizing his leadership, dedication, and commitment to giving back to the next generation of student-athletes.
Today, the 22-year-old stands in the corner as a coach, but in 2016, he was the young wrestler stepping onto the mat.
“I was hooked. My mom couldn't get me off of wrestling. That's all I ever thought about. That's all I ever wanted to do.”
He began at BTSLA’s Century YAL Wrestling program in Compton before continuing at Edison Middle School and Fremont High School. Islas also represented BTSLA at its first-ever National Camp & Duals in Chicago, which brings together Beat the Streets student-athletes from across the country for wrestling, educational workshops, and college and career exposure.
Today, Islas serves as head coach of BTSLA’s Lennox Community Program and assistant coach at the Roosevelt Community Program, both offered in partnership with Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation.
His decision to become a coach was shaped by his own experiences with BTSLA. At a San Fernando Valley tournament, Islas remembers having just $1 left after buying food when he ran into Executive Director Yero Washington, who made a joke about giving back.
The brief interaction stuck with him and changed the way he thought about giving back.
Islas realized that giving back didn’t necessarily mean giving money. He could instead give “my time, my effort, my knowledge, and my experience with the program.”
His second reason was the impact of his own BTSLA coaches: Adlee Fayyaz, his first BTSLA coach, and Jose Cruz, his high school coach. Fayyaz taught him to see losses as opportunities to learn and keep moving forward, while Cruz taught him to turn difficult losses into motivation for growth. Years later, Islas now coaches Cruz’s son at BTSLA’s Roosevelt program.
Having once been in their position, Islas understands what his young wrestlers experience firsthand. His coaching philosophy centers on encouraging athletes to push through difficult moments and build their confidence, discipline, and strength.
“I believe as a coach, it's like a gardener. You want to teach someone to weed out all the bad aspects of what doesn't look nice in the garden. And little by little, they start doing it themselves. So then they start making their own garden.
After four years of coaching and nearly a decade as part of the BTSLA community, Islas’ commitment to the next generation has not gone unnoticed. During BTSLA’s 2026 Coach & Mentor Training, he was named the organization’s first-ever Leader of the Year, recognizing his leadership, dedication to his athletes, and willingness to go above and beyond for his program.
Mallory Velte, Associate Director of Mentorship and Programming, highlighted Islas’ ability to build meaningful connections with his students and his efforts to grow participation among female wrestlers.
“I just want kids to know that there's these opportunities that they can reach as long as they continue to push themselves. And I think this recognition just means a lot to me because I'm happy someone [BTSLA] was watching,” Islas said after receiving the award.
Ten years after first joining BTSLA, Islas’ journey exemplifies the lasting impact the organization hopes to create: young people who grow through wrestling and return to help the next generation do the same.
For student-athletes who may want to become coaches someday, Islas’ advice is simple: start.
“You know, sometimes you just got to get your foot in the door and get a little bit of what it tastes like, what it feels like. You know, there isn’t any right direction of where you need to start. You just got to start. You got to start. You have to be yourself. And when things start to get hard, it’s those moments where you really, really have to dig deep and start figuring out what route you want to take. Because I’ve said this many times: it’s easier to quit than it is to stay. And every kid has been in your situation. They’re exactly where you’ve been right now.”
What’s Next for John Islas?
Islas is currently working toward a mechanical engineering degree at East Los Angeles College and hopes to transfer to a four-year university next fall.
“It’s been a ride. I would say that Beat the Streets is so important because there are a lot of kids who don’t know what to do, where to start, or what to get into. And I think that’s what makes Beat the Streets so special. It gives them an opportunity to take that first step and get introduced to wrestling. And being able to give a kid what wrestling once gave me means everything to me.”
— John Islas
