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Gary Abbott [email protected]
USA to face Japan at Beat the Streets in Times Square, May 17
March 6, 2017 at 11:36 AM
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[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Cc: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
For immediate release, March 6, 2017
Contact: Joe Favorito, 917-566-8345 JF; [email protected]
Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling, 719-659-9637, [email protected]
USA Men’s And Women’s Wrestlers To Face International Power Japan In
New York City’s Times Square May 17 for Beat the Streets Annual Benefit
Select American stars to take Japanese wrestlers in first-time New York dual meet; Youth
Wrestlers and High School Wrestlers take The Mat; Benefit Celebration Follows
NEW YORK– Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc. and USA Wrestling announced today that the
men’s and women’s national wrestling teams of the United States and Japan will square off in
New York City’s Times Square on Wednesday, May 17 in the seventh annual wrestling
celebration. This year’s event will take place in Times Square’s Duffy Square (between 46th and
47th streets). Competitors for Team USA, which will include members of the 2016 Olympic team
as well as other elite stars, and their Japanese opponents will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We welcome our friends and colleagues from Japan to help us spread the word and once again
make history with our event in Times Square,” said Beat the Streets Chairman of the Board Mike
Novogratz. “We have worked with many nations in our goodwill mission for young people over
the years, but bringing both the men’s and women’s elite wrestlers from Japan here for this dual
meet will be a unique experience for all, with every dollar helping further our mission of growing
the sport of wrestling in New York City across the country and around the world, from the
grassroots on up.”
In 2013, the event dubbed “The Rumble on the Rails,” was hosted in historic Grand Central
Terminal and featured dual meets between Team USA, Russia and Iran. Playing an important role
in the international Keep Olympic Wrestling effort, this historic wrestling event gained
international media coverage and helped wrestling retain its status on the Olympic Games
program.
program.
The world-class competition has been hosted in Times Square five previous times. In 2011, the
United States defeated World Champion Russia, 5-2, the first sports event ever held in historic
Times Square. In 2012, another U.S. vs. Russia dual meet was held in Times Square, along with
the U.S. Olympic Team Wrestle-off for the 60 kg/132 lbs. position on the U.S. Olympic Team in
men’s freestyle. In 2014, Team USA defeated a World All-Star Team in Times Square, 8-3. In
2015, “Salsa in the Square” featured a meeting between Team USA and Team Cuba in the three
Olympic styles, held shortly after the historic change in USA and Cuban political relations. Last
year the US met Iran in a dual meet in Times Square as a preview to the 2016 Olympic Games.
This will be the eighth straight year in which a major international-style wrestling competition
will be hosted as part of the Beat the Streets Benefit activities. In 2010, an all-star challenge
featuring top U.S. wrestlers was held on the USS Intrepid, an aircraft carrier docked on the west
side of Manhattan.
Top Beat the Streets youth wrestlers will take the mat showcasing their skills in exhibition
matches beginning at 3:00 p.m. to kick off the NYC Benefit. For the second straight year, the
Benefit will feature the PSAL Girls Freestyle Dual Meet Championships finals, showcasing the
two top New York City girl’s freestyle wrestling high school teams from the spring girl’s freestyle
season. Then it's Team USA vs. Japan at 6:00 p.m. with video highlights and special guest
appearances followed by the Beat the Streets Benefit Celebration.
Tickets are required for entry and can be purchased at www.btsny.org or 212.245.6570 or by
emailing [email protected]. Standing room available for non-ticket holders
on first come first serve basis. A ticket is required for the Benefit Celebration at the Marriott
Marquis. More details are available at http://www.btsny.org/gala.
The Benefit Celebration will follow the wrestling competition. This unique and electrifying
annual event helps Beat the Streets (BTS) raise significant funds to further its mission. Whether
it’s providing a safe, constructive outlet for our urban youth, fighting childhood obesity,
empowering women, or uniting entire nations, wrestling teaches persistence, dedication, and the
value of working hard to achieve one’s goals and creates opportunities for personal and universal
growth. BTS currently serve over 3,000 student-athletes every year.
Beat the Streets Wrestling Schedule
In New York City, May 17, 2017
3:00 p.m. – Beat the Streets Youth Exhibition Matches between 46th and 47th Streets
4:45 p.m. – New York City Girl’s Freestyle Dual Meet Championships Finals between 46th and
47th Streets
6:00 p.m. – World Class Wrestling: Team USA vs. Team Japan between 46th and 47th Streets
Followed by Benefit Celebration
About Beat the Streets
The mission of Beat the Streets is to develop the full potential of the urban youth and to
strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTS works directly with the New York City
strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTS works directly with the New York City
Department of Education in a public-private partnership to bring the life changing sport of
wrestling to over 3,000 New York City student-athletes to help them achieve their personal and
athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five
boroughs, BTS and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and atrisk youth can learn the essential life lessons of grit, personal responsibility and teamwork,
physical fitness and nutrition, and life-long learning. The goal of fostering strong, well-rounded
student-athletes is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, life skills workshops, and
summer camps. More information can be found at www.btsny.org.
About USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States
and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World
Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central
organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create
interest and participation in these programs. It has over 220,000 members across the nation, boys
and girls, men and women of all ages, representing all levels of the sport. Its president is Bruce
Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender. More information can be found at
TheMat.com
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