- Ashley Wang
Alessandra Elliot Wins 16U Fargo Title, Jessica Kemgne All-Americans at Juniors
Three BTS Academy girls compete at 2021 Fargo Nationals
Beat the Streets returns home from Fargo, North Dakota today with a 16U national champ in Alessandra Elliot and a Junior All-American in Jessica Kemgne.
After one year off of the wrestling mat and tournament scene, Beat the Streets brought three Academy girls to the 2021 U.S. Marine Corps Junior and 16U National Championships—also known as Fargo—last week. Hosted annually, the freestyle tournament is a prestigious mainstay on the scholastic wrestling calendar.
On Sunday, rising high school sophomore Alessandra Elliot competed in the 16U girl’s freestyle division at 138 pounds, going 4-0 to take home gold. Elliot also wrestled in the Juniors division a few days later on Tuesday, going 3-2 overall.
“I felt like all my hard work really paid off,” said Elliot. “I put in all those extra hours of work on the mat, so when it came time for the actual matches I knew I was ready. It’s an incredible feeling to achieve something that you really worked hard for.”
Recent high school graduates Jessica Kemgne and Makansira Keita competed exclusively in the Juniors division, with Kemgne placing eight and earning All-American status at 164 pounds yesterday. Keita, who competed at 200 pounds, fell in the consolations.
Accompanying the girls as a coach was former BTS Director of Programming Emma Randall. Randall, who coached the girls closely at the BTS Training Center the last three years, says it was a great week of competition.
“Our girls work hard, are always eager to learn and challenge themselves,” said Emma Randall. “I’m glad they got the chance to challenge themselves at Fargo after a year without competing for BTS due to Covid.”
As BTS grows as an organization and expand its impact, Randall says New York City student-athletes will continue to improve their performances at the top level.
“Alessandra, Jess, and Makansira’s performances are an affirmation to the strength of NYC wrestling,” said Randall. “I’m incredibly proud of each of the girls.”