New York City youth learn wrestling, life skills at Beat the Streets Top of Podium camp

More than 40 student-athletes participated in the three-day camp.

More than 40 New York City student-athletes participated in Beat the Streets Wrestling's annual Top of the Podium camp at the BTS Training Center this past week.

The three-day camp provided wrestling technique sessions and engaging Q&A sessions with BTS alumni each day for the student-athletes that ranged from kindergarten through eighth grade. Nine BTS high school student-athletes also served as camp counselors, helping teach wrestling moves to the campers.

"TOP camp is more than just a wrestling opportunity - it is a transformative experience for New York City student-athletes," BTS Junior League Manager Jon Alicea said. "Watching these boys and girls push themselves, learn wrestling technique and fundamentals, build friendships and have fun is what BTS is all about. This camp continues to be a positive way to engage NYC boys and girls to grow, both on and off the wrestling mat."

BTS alumni Emily Nunez (East Stroudsburg University), Oumar Tounkara (Drexel University) and Isaias Torres (Ithaca College) shared their wrestling experience and how the sport and BTS has made a lifelong impact on their life. They also provided insights and tips on what the campers can do now in the classroom and in wrestling to set themselves up to follow in their footsteps to wrestle in college. Each alum touched on a life skill that they learned during the BTS Academy that helped them achieve their dream of wrestling in college: academic dedication (Nunez), perseverance (Tounkara) and leadership (Torres).

Emily Nunez

"I would have loved to experience this more as a child when I was their age growing up - had more exposure to wrestling. Beat the Streets has helped me come a long way along with high school teams. I felt it was time to give back and show some love and show them how far I have come so they can be inspired, and the kids here can be inspired to also follow into my footsteps and others."

Oumar Tounkara

"It was important for me to come to TOP camp to help out the youth at Beat the Streets because when I was young Beat the Streets did the same for me. It felt good to interact with the kids and showing them new wrestling moves and playing games with them. Overall, it was a good experience."

Isaias Torres

"One of my first core memories in wrestling was coming to these camps. I remember not having friends going in there and I didn't know that much about wrestling. It completely changed my perspective on wrestling. It means a lot for (Beat the Streets) to bring me in and showing things to the kids. I remember in the TOP camp, I remember I used to look up to guys like Barry Hart, Josh Antoine and Deuly Espinal. I wanted to be one of those guys. It is a full-circle moment for me. It means a lot."

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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 New York City urban youth and strengthen the city's 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.