2025 Beat the Streets Academy graduates to start college

Twelve graduates plan to continue wrestling, while pursuing college degrees.

The sixth graduating class of the Beat the Streets Academy will head to college and into military training this fall.

The Academy aims to prepare students for success both on and off the wrestling mat. The program provides free-of-cost resources like SAT prep, tutoring and Training Center wrestling practices. It is open to dedicated to middle school and high school student-athletes across all five New York City boroughs, teaching skills necessary to succeed in wrestling, graduate high school and pursue post-secondary education.

The 2025 BTS Academy graduating class features 13 individuals who enrolled in college, U.S. military or secured employment after high school graduation. The college enrollees include Oumar Tounkara, who will compete at the NCAA Division I level at Drexel University. Four BTS Academy graduates will test their skills at the Division III level: Edward Chin (Alfred State College), Christopher Edel (Johnson & Wales University), Adrian Hulaj (Hunter College) and Matthew Velez (Rochester Institute of Technology). Ibrahim Khalil and Andrew Roman will grapple at the NJCAA level for Nassau Community College.

Six graduates will continue to compete in women's wrestling close to home in New Jersey: Belen Medina (Felician University), and Marielys Lugo Fernandez, Lorena Martinez, Joy Murray, Aracelli Rodriguez and Tehana Savory (all New Jersey City University).

2025 Academy graduating class

Allison Chau - University of Buffalo

Edward Chin - Alfred State College*

Christopher Edel - Johnson & Wales University*

Jayson Espinoza - University of Buffalo

Justin Fajardo - Queens College

Kerolos Gorgy - Long Island University, Brooklyn

Jada Guervil - North Carolina Agriculture & Technical State University

Adrian Hulaj - Hunter College*

Luis Jimenez - Alfred State College

Ibrahim Khalil - Nassau Community College*

Melissa Lopez Carrasco - Fashion Institute of Technology

Jonah Lugo - Nassau Community College

Marielys Lugo Fernandez - New Jersey City University*

Lorena Martinez - New Jersey City University*

Belen Medina - Felician University*

Abdul-Wahab Moghul - Baruch College

Joy Murray - New Jersey City University*

Anaiya Pagan - Manhattan University

Albert Peralta - Ithaca College

Oumar Tounkara - Drexel University*

Daneel Niyazov - Hofstra University

Aracelli Rodriguez - New Jersey City University*

Andrew Roman - Nassau Community College*

Tehana Savory - New Jersey City University*

Khadiza Sikder - Baruch College

*Wrestling in college

Since being founded in 2005, Beat the Streets has pioneered a movement that now includes 150 individual wrestling programs, a youth league and the first girls high school league.

BTS works to develop the full human and athletic potential of the urban youth and strengthen the New York City wrestling culture. We aim to make a lifelong impact on student-athletes through the lessons learned on the wrestling mat -- discipline, perseverance, self-reliance, humility and a strong work ethic. Discover how you can make a meaningful contribution to our work at btsny.org/donate.