From Campus Tours to Championship Gold: BTSLA's National Camp & Duals Journey

This summer, Beat the Streets Los Angeles brought 36 student-athletes to Cleveland, Ohio, for the 5th Annual Beat the Streets National Camp & Duals. Joining 13 Beat the Streets chapters from across the country, our athletes spent the week exploring college campuses, training with elite coaches, building friendships, and competing against talented wrestlers from different cities, states, and backgrounds.

The week began with a visit to Kent State University, where athletes toured campus, learned about student life, and stepped inside the wrestling room for a practice. For one of our graduating seniors who has committed to Kent State this fall, it was an especially memorable opportunity to experience her future home before the school year begins.

After lunch on campus, everyone headed to Case Western Reserve University to reunite with the other Beat the Streets chapters and pick up their official ASICS gear. As a longtime partner of Beat the Streets National, ASICS once again made sure every athlete was competition-ready with backpacks, wrestling shoes, bucket hats, towels, singlets, and more. It didn't take long before everyone was proudly showing off their new gear.

The following day, the team traveled to the University of Pittsburgh for another incredible college experience. Director of Development Carl Fronhofer, a Pitt alumnus, and Associate Head Coach Drew Headlee led athletes on a personal tour of campus, sharing stories from their own college experience while introducing students to one of the country's premier universities. The group explored the iconic Cathedral of Learning, visited the athletic Walk of Fame, and even found Carl's commemorative stone honoring his accomplishments as a student-athlete.

Thanks to Carl's connection with the program, our athletes also had the opportunity to train inside Pitt's wrestling room before enjoying lunch and experiencing life on campus.

Throughout the week, athletes trained alongside wrestlers from every Beat the Streets chapter, encouraging one another to step outside their comfort zones and build friendships with teammates from across the country. The United States Air Force challenged campers with a high-energy fitness workout that tested both their physical and mental toughness while reinforcing the importance of teamwork and perseverance.

Our girls also attended the annual “Move Her Mind” Luncheon, sponsored by ASICS, where they heard from wrestling legends Adeline Gray and Audrey Jimenez. Gray is one of the most accomplished wrestlers in U.S. history, earning six World Championship titles, two World silver medals, two World bronze medals, and an Olympic silver medal. Jimenez, the 2026 NCAA Women's National Champion at 110 pounds, has also represented Team USA on the international stage, earning multiple World Championship medals at the U20 and U23 levels.

The athletes listened as both women shared their journeys through the sport, offered advice about leadership and resilience, and encouraged the next generation of female wrestlers to continue chasing their goals. For many of our girls, it was a special opportunity to reconnect with Adeline after she joined Beat the Streets Los Angeles for our Tomorrow's Leaders SuperClinic in October 2025, while others were thrilled to meet both athletes for the very first time.

When competition day arrived, Team Los Angeles was ready.

Our boys battled through an entire day of wrestling, competing from morning until late afternoon against some of the toughest competition in the country. Their determination earned them a third-place finish.

The girls once again proved why they are one of Beat the Streets' premier teams. After advancing to the championship dual, they faced stiff competition from Chicago in an intense back-and-forth battle that came down to the final match. With every point counting, our athletes wrestled through adversity, supported one another from the sidelines, and ultimately secured the championship by a single point.

The victory marked Beat the Streets Los Angeles’ second National Camp & Duals championship in the event's five-year history, bringing the title back to Los Angeles after an unforgettable performance.

Beyond the medals and trophies, National Camp & Duals continues to be about so much more than wrestling. Throughout the week, our student-athletes experienced college life, connected with peers from across the country, learned from world-class mentors, and represented Los Angeles with integrity, resilience, and heart.

As we celebrate another incredible summer, we'd also like to recognize our graduating seniors. Thank you for everything you've given to Beat the Streets Los Angeles. Watching you grow as athletes, leaders, and young adults has been an honor, and we can't wait to see where your next chapter takes you.

A huge thank you goes out to Beat the Streets National, ASICS, our coaches, volunteers, families, donors, and supporters who make opportunities like this possible. Because of your generosity, our athletes continue to discover new places, build lifelong friendships, and create memories that extend far beyond the wrestling mat.