New York City students shine at 2025 Beat the Streets Junior League City Championships

Thirty-three boys and girls claimed titles, including Mia Carmela Barro in the boys and girls standard divisions.

New York City student-athletes delivered standout performances at the 2025 Beat the Streets Wrestling Junior League City Championships on Sunday, Dec. 14 at Harry S. Truman High School, earning city titles in a season-ending event that celebrated youth achievement and athletic excellence.

The tournament brought together student-athletes from community- and school-based programs across the five boroughs. The competition showcased the skills and confidence developed throughout the season. Student-athletes competed in three divisions: standard (boys and girls) and novice, with Mia Carmela Barro of Poly Prep in Brooklyn earning titles in the standard boys and girls divisions.

P.S. 5 Port Morris of The Bronx (Standard Girls), M.S. 582 of Brooklyn (Standard Boys) and Harlem Jets of Manhattan (Novice) claimed team division titles. Cornerstone Academy of The Bronx took second in the Novice and Standard Girls divisions. In its first season as a team, I.S. 51 Markham of Staten Island took second in Standard Boys and fourth in Novice divisions.

"The Junior League is about giving boys and girls a platform to succeed and believe in themselves," BTS Junior League Manager and Cornerstone Academy coach Jon Alicea said. "The City Championships is about recognizing our student-athletes and the hard work they've put in all season."

Each season, New York City elementary and middle school boys and girls participate in the Junior League season. Student-athletes learn new wrestling technique during their weekly practices at their school then compete in three Family Afternoon Match (FAM) Days, two mini-tournament and the city championship. In addition to wrestling, BTS also implements the Wrestler’s Mark Enrichment curriculum, in which common phrases or techniques used on the mat are translated to real-life learning scenarios off the wrestling mat.

The Junior League program is a fundamental component of BTS' mission to empower New York City boys and girls through wrestling. By providing competition, mentorship and positive coaching role models, the program helps students build confidence, character and community.

For more information about BTS and its programs, visit btsny.org.

Individual champions - Boys

Holden Fox Portella (Fox Portella)

Mia Carmela Barro (Poly Prep)

Gray Fox Portella (Fox Portella)

Evan Rodriguez (M.S. 582)

Sinnott Joseph (I.S. 24 Myra Barnes)

Jonair Thomas (I.S. 51 Markham)

Owen Balla (Harlem Jets)

Carlos Diaz (P.S. 178)

Terrence Mason (P.S. 178)

Johnathan Kaminsky (M.S. 582)

Edwin Jurardo (I.S. 51 Markham)

Robert Ortega (M.S. 582)

Individual champions - Girls

Lelquana Douglas (P.S. 5 Port Morris)

Mia Carmela Barro (Poly Prep)

Lena Gao (Cornerstone Academy)

Lehaqura Doulgas (P.S. 5 Port Morris)

Jeanette Ocasio (Cornerstone Academy)

Hayley Franqui (P.S. 5 Port Morris)

Celine Elliott (Tottenville)

Nillia Boddie (Bronx Medical Science)

Heaven Aspinall (P.S. 178)

Prestine Cutchin (Excellence Girls)

Individual champions - Novice

Aiden Maestre (P.S. 5 Port Morris)

Imbrahim Jinado (I.S. 51 Markham)

Rinchen Khodzhaev (Tottenville)

Alexander Alfonzo (I.S. 75 Frank Paulo)

Daryl Gregory (Harlem Jets)

Iakubov Iusufsho (I.S. 24 Myra Barnes)

Francier Rivas-Garcia (BWCCS 2)

Sebastian Ramirez (M.S. 129)

Joshua Udeke (Riverdale Kingsbridge Academy)

Haig Hunter (I.S. 51 Markham)

Ryder Pagan (Bathgate) Jayden Harrison (Harlem Jets)

Since being founded in 2005, Beat the Streets New York has pioneered a movement that now includes 110-plus individual wrestling programs, a youth league and the first girls high school league.

BTSNY works to develop the full human and athletic potential of the urban youth and strengthen the NYC 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.