BTS Chicago News
BTSC Open During Strike
With Chicago Public Schools closed for after school activities during the strike, Beat the Streets Chicago will not hold wrestling programs at CPS venues (Bowen, Curie, Frazier, Sarah Goode, Solorio).
Ogden Park, a Chicago Park District location and site of one of our Fall programs remains open, as does our programs at Chicago Hope Academy and De La Salle Institute.
All Beat the Streets Chicago wrestlers are welcome at all sites. Wrestlers who typically practice at the CPS venues should make arrangements to attend practices at any of the three open sites:
- Chicago Hope Academy, 2189 W. Bowler St, Mon/Wed 5:30-7:30pm
- De La Salle Institute, 3434 S. Michigan, Tues/Thurs 6-8pm
- Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine, Tues/Thurs 4-5:30pm AND 8-9pm (note this program is part of a broader after school program)
Questions? Leave a voicemail for Program Director Sonny Simonetti at 312.767.5673 or click to email.
Coaches Convention Focuses on “Whole Athlete” Says Mike Powell
Beat the Streets Chicago is excited to partner with the IWCOA on the 2019 Officials and Coaches convention, held at the Holiday Inn in Countryside, IL. The IWCOA and BTS Chicago are actively trying to promote and build wrestling in our great state. The convention is a major part of this effort.
We received many suggestions after last year’s convention. Many of those suggestions revolved around off the mat coaching. We heard you! This year’s convention will have plenty of technique and will have significant focus on coaching the “whole athlete.”
It is a great honor to welcome the two-time reigning world champion J’Den Cox to the convention. J’Den is fresh off an absolute dominant world championship where he did not give up a single offensive point. He will be our lead clinician. J’den will also delve into the underestimated but crucial mindset of a wrestling and life champion.
Mark Ellis, former NCAA Champion at Missouri, and midwest director of wrestling at the FCA, will present on 3Dimensional coaching. The 3D coaching philosophy is unique in sport and is something I have personally followed for years. Mark is a dynamic presenter and this will be a can’t miss presentation.
Fresh off announcing the world championships, former college coach, master recruiter and wrestling guru Dave Mirikitani will present on how coaches can help their athletes transition from high school to college athletics. Many coaches want to see their athletes go on and wrestle in college, and thus reap all the benefits of being a supported college athlete – tutors, counselors, being part of a team, higher graduation rates, etc. Dave will arm coaches with all they need to make this a reality for their athletes.
Bryan Medlin, Illinois RTC coach, builder of the powerhouse Washington HS wrestling program and Illinois Greco dynasty, will present on building and sustaining a winning culture. Anyone who has coached or wrestled for Bryan will tell you that he is the best in the game.
How do you get your wrestler to have the 5 instead of 4 in those tight 5-4, high pressure matches? NCAA Champion and master technician and tactician Jeremy Hunter will present and entire session on winning close matches. This is something we heard loud and clear from coaches as we asked for suggestions following last year. This will be hugely beneficial to coaches who are trying to get their wrestlers over the hump.
Several coaches at last year’s social (this year, it will be on Friday evening at the hotel) suggested a session of drills that can be immediately implemented into practice. After 20 years of traveling the country coaching, I stole drills from Cubans, college coaches, master HS coaches, and anyone else who would talk with me about running a great room. I even came up with a few drills myself. I will present an entire session on wrestling drills, most of which are unique and can be added to youth, beginner, and advanced practices immediately.
Last, we have the Northwestern staff coming in to present more technique. More information to come on this is the coming days.
We have purposely designed this convention to serve both high school and youth coaches. We hope everyone will come join us as we prepare for another season in the great wrestling state of Illinois.
Hope to see you there.
~Mike Powell, Executive Director Beat the Streets Chicago
Hotel information:
To register:
www.btschicago.org or www.iwcoa.net
J’Den Cox to Headline Coaches Convention
J’Den Cox, 3x World Medalist and current world #1 ranked 92kg men’s freestyle wrestler, will lead clinics at the October 25-26 Beat the Streets Chicago – Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) Coaches Convention at the Holiday Inn in Countryside, Illinois.
This second event aimed at high school and youth wrestling officials and coaching staffs will offer clinics, breakout sessions, meetings with officials, a vendor fair and a Friday night social.
Tony Clarke, Bill Honeycutt and Nate Kesson will lead the presentations for and with officials. Head coaches attending Tony Clarke’s Rules Interpretation Meeting will get credit in their IHSA schools center. Tony Clarke is IHSA Head Wrestling Clinician and NFHS rules committee member.
Presenters at the sessions geared towards coaches include: Bryan Medlin, Jeremy Hunter, Mike Powell, Mark Ellis and Dave Mirikitani. Once finalized, the days’ itinerary will be posted on the Beat the Streets Chicago website.
Cost to attend is $125, or $300 for a coaching staff (same school). Cost includes both Friday and Saturday sessions, dinner / social on Friday night and breakfast and lunch on Saturday. Registration begins at 3pm on Friday. The event concludes at 3pm on Saturday.
Register now on the IWCOA website [click here].
Those interested in staying at the Holiday Inn Friday night can take advantage of a special early-bird rate. Mention IWCOA & Beat the Streets Chicago Convention when making reservations. The hotel is located at 6201 Joliet Road in Countryside. Phone: 708.354.4200.
Questions about the convention should be directed to Mike Powell, Executive Director of Beat the Streets Chicago.
[Click here] to read Mike’s blog post from last year regarding the inaugural Coaches Convention.
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City Winery Selected for 2020 Gala
Save the date! Beat the Streets Chicago will hold its third annual gala on Saturday, June 6, 2020.
This year, we’re moving the festivities to City Winery at 1200 West Randolph in Chicago’s Fulton Market district. Expect the same energizing combination of friends, food, cocktails and program all coming together to support Chicago’s youth.
Beat the Streets Chicago is a nonprofit that empowers Chicago youth through wrestling. With a belief that all children have the potential to be life champions, we provide the opportunity to build that potential in quality wrestling programs driven by positive coaching, supportive relationships and meaningful enrichment. Opportunity requires resources and our annual June gala is our biggest fundraising event of the year.
Put it on your calendar – we hope you’ll join us.
Watch for more information at btschicago.org/gala
We sent our Director of Operations and her husband down to City Winery to check it out. They approve!!
Fall Registration Now Open
Registration is now open for Beat the Streets Chicago’s Fall Season of wrestling.
Fall season is open to third through twelfth graders of all levels. At Beat the Streets Chicago’s nine training centers located throughout the City of Chicago, we welcome beginners all the way through high school students, girls and boys.
High school wrestlers can get a jump on the winter IHSA season at their schools with quality training, positive coaching and opportunity for competition. Youth wrestlers new to the sport will learn fundamentals while more experienced young wrestlers will build on their skills in an atmosphere of dedication, hard work and fun. Fall Wrestling Season is typically a prelude to the winter season, when teams are formed and opportunities for clinics and competition fill up most weekends. The Fall Season is a great time to get back into the sport, stay fit and be ready for winter – and get ahead of those waiting for November to get on the mat!
Practices start the week of September 9 and run through November 1. During the eight-week season, Beat the Streets Chicago will host two weekend “Informals,” our signature half-day combination of technique clinic, friendly competition and enrichment activities. Informals are always free to Beat the Streets participants. Dedicated wrestlers will have the opportunity to travel to one or more regional weekend tournaments.
Wrestlers should register for any one of our eight Training Center Sites. Note age restrictions at certain locations. All locations are co-ed. Wrestlers interested in training at multiple sites need sign up for only one Training Center.
- Bowen High School, Head Coach Ron Wilson – 5th – 12th grade; 5:30pm – 7pm, Tuesday & Thursday
- Chicago Hope Academy, Head Coach Dan Willis – 5th – 12th grade; 5pm – 7pm, Monday & Wednesday
- Curie Metro High School, Head Coach Marcos Rico – 5th – 12th grade, 6pm – 8pm, Monday & Wednesday
- De La Salle Institute, Head Coach Ben Sanchez – 5th – 12th grade, 6pm – 8pm, Tuesday & Thursday
- Frazier International, Head Coach Nate Fowler – 3rd – 8th grade, 4:30pm – 6pm, Tuesday & Thursday
- Ogden Park Park District, Head Coach Tevin O’Neil – 3rd – 12th grade, 4pm – 5:30 AND 8pm-9pm, Tuesday & Thursday
- Sarah Goode High School, Head Coach Jared Presley – 5th – 12th grade, 5pm – 7pm, Tuesday & Thursday
- Solorio Academy, Head Coach Alexander Peacock – 3rd – 8th grade, 4pm – 5:30pm Tuesday & Thursday
Cost for the Fall Season is $25, which includes a USA Wrestling membership card and workout gear. To register, visit the Beat the Streets Chicago website btschicago.org/programs
New wrestlers will be required to show proof of age with a copy of his/her birth certificate. Direct questions to Program Director Sonny Simonetti ssimonetti@btschicago.org or leave a message at 312.767.5673.
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Coaches Off to a Good Start
Nearly 20 coaches, representing each of our program sites, attended the 1st Annual BTSC Coaches Breakfast on August 23, 2019. Hope Cafe on 2341 Roosevelt street was filled with the leaders of our organization whose goals are to empower the youth of Chicago. This meeting served as a chance for coaches to network and to gather information on the upcoming programs for the new year. BTSC ran a successful program last year so our goal is to continue that momentum and to build on that success!
A few brilliant ideas came about at the end of the breakfast during the Q&A session. We discussed ways that we can live stream our events for parents and fans to watch, more communication tools for the coaches, volunteering for film productions, and we talked about starting up a youth traveling team. We will be working hard on making these topics come into fruition in the future so be on the lookout!
The meeting was not just informative, but also motivational. I got the chance to meet many of our coaches and talk to them about their goals and programs. Even though we all want to empower the youth through the sport, each person has their own unique story and reasons as to why they are giving their time and energy into the cause. The start of our fall season begins September 9, 2019 and I am ready for our kids to get rolling on the mat. Register your child ASAP!
Thank You For Making #GivingTuesday A Huge Success!
We did it!
We exceeded our #givingtuesday goal!
Your gifts will buy gear, meals and transportation for teams of kids!
“We have a vision of building programming that is both life-changing and successful at the highest levels,” said Executive Director Mike Powell. “And we are going to make sure that everyone has access to it.”
It’s because of generous supporters like you that these kids are champs.
We couldn’t do it without you.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support.
Top Coaches Host Wrestling Clinic Oct. 6
Beers And A Band 2018 Was A Big Hit!
Thank you to all of you who helped make this year’s Beers And A Band a success!
A big crowd turned out to hear 3 Uncles and a Nephew and to enjoy the plentiful libations that flowed throughout the night.
The proceeds will be used to make our fall programming for Chicago’s youth even stronger.
We couldn’t do what we do without you.
Thank you for supporting BTS Chicago!