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USA-Russia Freestyle Olympic Style Wrestling Meet To Be Held Outdoors In Times Square On May 5

“Crossroads of The World” To Serve As Unique Setting For Two of the World’s Athletic Powers As Part of The 2011 “Beat The Streets” Gala

New York, April 20, 2011 - “Beat The Streets,” the New York City-based not-for-profit organization that has brought wrestling to thousands of middle and high school students in New York City, along with USA Wrestling and the New York City Department of Education, today announced their most unique event ever, a freestyle wrestling match featuring some of the world’s greatest Olympic-class wrestlers, to be held in Duffy Square in New York’s Times Square on Thursday, May 5.

The freestyle wrestling dual meet between defending team world champion Russia and the United States, will be the featured competition for the 2011 Beat the Streets Gala and Benefit, which will be held following the dual meet at the Hard Rock Café. It is being billed as The Battle on Broadway, with “New York Is Wrestling” as the theme of this year’s event, which traditionally raises several hundred thousand dollars for programs in five boroughs of New York City. The event is free to the public, and will also be streamed live on TheMat.com by USA Wrestling and be shown on the single largest face LED screen in Times Square.

“There is no grander setting than Times Square to feature some of the world’s greatest athletes and to raise awareness for our program, which has given thousands of boys and girls the ability to be more physically fit and learn the life lessons that are essential for success in today’s ever-changing world,” said Mike Novogratz, Beat The Streets Chairman of the Board. “This event, outdoors in Duffy Square, will provide us with a very unique way to expose our program to thousands who may not be aware of our work, so we are very appreciative of all involved from the City and the Times Square Alliance, as well as USA Wrestling, for helping make this happen.”

“We are very proud to be able to help present this very unique event as a way to grow awareness for the sport and all the good work ‘Beat The Streets’ does for kids in New York City,” said Rich Bender, USA Wrestling Executive Director. “It will be a great setting for some of the world’s greatest athletes to showcase their skills.”

This is the second straight year in which a major Olympic-style competition has been featured as part of the Beat the Streets Gala. 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. Over 1,200 donors from over 26 states attended the event.

A card of exhibition matches will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Duffy Square, featuring young athletes who wrestle in the Beat the Streets youth program, as well as high school wrestlers from the Public School Athletic League.

Final lineups for Team USA and the Russian National Team will be announced shortly.

The USA vs. Russia freestyle dual meet will follow at 6:00 p.m. in Duffy Square. Russia is the reigning World Team Champion in freestyle wrestling and is a traditional wrestling rival for the United States. USA vs. Russia freestyle dual meets go back to the 1960’s, and are among the most popular spectator events in wrestling.

The Beat the Streets Reception and Awards Ceremony is set for the Hard Rock Café, 1501 Broadway in New York City, starting at 7:30 p.m. There will be a live musical performance by country music legend John Rich at the function.


2011 BEAT THE STREETS GALA
New York Is Wrestling
Battle on Broadway
Duffy Square – Times Square at 46th Street in New York, N.Y., May 5

3:00 p.m. – Exhibition Matches – Beat the Streets and PSAL wrestlers

6:00 p.m. – USA vs. Russia freestyle wrestling dual meet

7:30 p.m. – Reception and Awards Ceremony at the Hard Rock Café, 1501 Broadway in New York City, with special musical guest John Rich


ABOUT BEAT THE STREETS

The Mission of the Beat the Streets Wrestling Program is to expand and develop wrestling in the New York City Metropolitan area from the youth through the Olympic level. Our dream is to provide opportunities for boys and girls in the activity of wrestling, building lifelong skills. If you share this mission and would like to volunteer to help, please contact info@beat-the-streets.org.

NCAA, Olympic And World Champion Wrestlers In Lineup For USA-Russia Dual Meet In Times Square May 5

U.S. and Russian lineups set for freestyle dual meet, part of the “Beat The Streets Gala” In New York

NEW YORK, April 25, 2011- A host of World, Olympic and NCAA Champions are included in the final lineups announced today for the freestyle wrestling dual meet between the United States and Russia, part of the 2011 Beat the Streets Gala on Thursday, May 5 at New York’s Times Square. The event will be held in Duffy Square in New York City, located in the historic Times Square setting at 46th Street. The event is free to the public, and will also be streamed live on TheMat.com by USA Wrestling and be shown on the single largest facing LED screen in Times Square. The USA vs. Russia freestyle wrestling dual meet will begin at 6:00 p.m., following a card of exhibition matches featuring young athletes who wrestle in the Beat the Streets youth program, as well as high school wrestlers from the Public School Athletic League, which will begin at 3:00 p.m.


The U.S. team will include:

* 2008 Olympic champion Henry Cejudo (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), who competes at 55 kg/121 lbs. This will be Cejudo’s first competition since winning the Olympic gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

* 2009 World silver medalist Jake Herbert (Evanston, Ill./New York AC) will wrestle at 84 kg/185 lbs. Herbert, who also competed in the 2010 World Championships, is coming off his third straight U.S. Open title on April 9 in Cleveland. He was a two-time NCAA champion and a Hodge Trophy winner at Northwestern.

* 2009 World bronze medalist Tervel Dlagnev (Columbus, Ohio/Sunkist Kids) will compete at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. Dlagnev won his first career U.S. Open title this year. He captured two NCAA Div. II national titles for Nebraska-Kearney.

* Brent Metcalf (Iowa City, Iowa/New York AC), a member of the 2010 U.S. World Team, will represent the USA at 66 kg/145.5 lbs. Metcalf was a two-time NCAA champion and a Hodge Trophy winner for Iowa.

Members of the 2009 U.S. World Team competing in New York will be Shawn Bunch (Columbus, Ohio (Gator WC) at 60 kg/132 lbs. and Jake Varner (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC) at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Bunch was a college star at Edinboro, while Varner won two NCAA titles for Iowa State.

At 74 kg/163 lbs., the USA will be represented by Jordan Burroughs (Sicklerville, N.J./Sunkist Kids). Burroughs won his second career NCAA title for Nebraska in March, received the Hodge Trophy, then captured his first U.S. Open national freestyle title in April.

“We have a great American team for this event,” said USA Wrestling National Freestyle Coach Zeke Jones. “When the Russians come to town, we don’t mess around. We are putting a strong team out there.”

The U.S. team will be coached by Jones, along with past Olympic head coach Bobby Douglas of Ames, Iowa. Mike Novogratz of New York, N.Y. is the Team Leader.

Russia is the reigning World Team Champion in freestyle wrestling. Its lineup for the New York City dual meet features a European champion and four Junior World champions and will be very competitive.

Nariman Israpilov, a 2009 European champion, is on the Russian roster at 55 kg/121 lbs. Past Junior World champions in the Russian lineup include Israpilov, plus Magomedmurad Gadzhiev at 66 kg/145.5 lbs., Andrey Valiev at 84 kg/185 lbs. and Shamil Akhmedov at 96 kg/211.5 lbs. Rounding out the Russian roster are young talents Rasul Murtazaliev at 60 kg/132 lbs., Aniuar Geduev at 74 kg/163 lbs. and Barsag Kesaev at 120 kg/264.5 lbs. All three have won medals at the Ivan Yarygin Memorial Grand Prix, considered one of the world’s toughest international competitions.

A U.S. lineup featuring an Olympic champion and three past Hodge Trophy winners will face a Russian lineup showcased by four Junior World champions.

“Russia is the bullseye for us, and we are excited for every chance we can get to wrestle against them,” said Jones. “We know that in our preparation to be the best in the world, we have to knock the Russian wrestlers off. They are very good. We have to be at our very best and ready to go when we face them.”

Each year, the Beat the Streets Gala is held to celebrate wrestling and raise funds for Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc., the successful program which has provided wrestling opportunities for thousands of middle school and high school students in New York City.
This is the second straight year in which a major Olympic-style competition has been featured as part of the Beat the Streets Gala. 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.

The Beat the Streets Reception and Awards Ceremony is set for the Hard Rock Café, 1501 Broadway in New York City, starting at 7:30 p.m. There will be a live musical performance by country music legend John Rich at the function.


2011 BEAT THE STREETS GALA
New York Is Wrestling
Battle on Broadway
Duffy Square – Times Square at 46th Street in New York, N.Y., May 5

USA vs. Russia Freestyle Dual Meet matches
55 kg/121 lbs. – Henry Cejudo (USA) vs. Nariman Israpilov (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch (USA) vs. Rasul Murtazaliev (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf (USA) vs. Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Russia)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs. Aniuar Geduev (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Herbert (USA) vs. Andrey Valiev (Russia)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. –Jake Varner (USA) vs. Shamil Akhmedov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) vs. Barsag Kesaev (Russia)

Is there any news about this event being streamed somewhere?

Jeff Blatnick, Rashad Evans, Kurt Angle, Dan Gable, Rulon Gardner Among Elite Athletes And Celebrities To Attend USA-Russia Dual Meet And 'BEAT The Streets' Gala Thursday In Times Square

Former Olympians, NCAA Champions, UFC And NFL Stars Join With Celebs For One-of-A-Kind Event In Times Square

NEW YORK, May 2, 2011- Some of the biggest names in the history of wrestling and mixed martial arts will join with other supporters from the NFL, television and movies in New York’s Duffy Square this Thursday night when the USA meets Russia in a one-of-a-kind dual meet at “The Crossroads of The World.” Some of the most legendary names from Olympic and NCAA competition, including Olympic champions Dan Gable, Rulon Gardner, Jeff Blatnick, Kurt Angle, Tom Brands and Kendall Cross, as well as NCAA champions Anthony Robles, Bubba Jenkins and Darrion Caldwell will be on hand for the matchup, which will feature some of the world’s most promising and accomplished wrestlers.

Among the stars competing are Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo, two-time NCAA champion and New Jersey native Jordan Burroughs, two-time NCAA champions Jake Varner, Jake Herbert, Brent Metcalf and others meeting the defending world champion Russians.

Joining those elite champions will be former Michigan State wrestler and current UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, as well as current NFL stars Justin Tuck, Antonio Garay, Marcus Colston and Willie Colon. Celebrities expected to be in attendance are Beat The Streets supporters Billy Baldwin, Matthew Modine and Nate Parker among others.

The event will be held in Duffy Square in New York City, located in the historic Times Square setting at 46th Street. The event is free to the public and will also be streamed live on TheMat.com by USA Wrestling and be shown on the single largest facing LED screen in Times Square. The USA vs. Russia freestyle wrestling dual meet will begin at 6 p.m., following a card of exhibition matches featuring young athletes who wrestle in the Beat the Streets youth program, as well as high school wrestlers from the Public School Athletic League and the Catholic High School Athletic Association, which will begin at 3 p.m.

THE OFFICIAL PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE EVENT WILL BE HELD WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, AT 2 P.M. IN THE OLYMPIC ROOM OF THE NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB.

Each year, the Beat the Streets Gala is held to celebrate wrestling and raise funds for Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc., the successful program which has provided wrestling opportunities for thousands of middle school and high school students in New York City.
This is the second straight year in which a major Olympic-style competition has been featured as part of the Beat the Streets Gala. 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.

The Beat the Streets Reception and Awards Ceremony is set for the Hard Rock Café, 1501 Broadway in New York City, starting at 7:30 p.m. There will be a live musical performance by country music legend John Rich at the function.

2011 BEAT THE STREETS GALA
New York Is Wrestling
Battle on Broadway
Duffy Square – Times Square at 46th Street in New York, N.Y., May 5

USA vs. Russia Freestyle Dual Meet matches
55 kg/121 lbs. – Henry Cejudo (USA) vs. Rasul Mashezov (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch (USA) vs. Rasul Murtazaliev (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf (USA) vs. Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Russia)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs. Aniuar Geduev (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Herbert (USA) vs. Andrey Valiev (Russia)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. –Jake Varner (USA) vs. Shamil Akhmedov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) vs. Barsag Kesaev (Russia)

Fox College Sports As Well As Two Live Webcasts To Broadcast USA-Russia Dual Wrestling Meet This Thursday From Times Square

Olympic Champion Rulon Gardner To Team With Jason Bryant For Tape-delayed Fox Broadcast

NEW YORK, May 3, 2011 – For those who can’t come in person to New York’s Duffy Square this Thursday night when the USA meets Russia at “The Crossroads of The World,” there will be other ways to witness this one-of-a-kind freestyle wrestling dual meet.

The event will be held in Duffy Square in New York City, located in the historic Times Square setting at 46th Street. The event is free to the public and will also be shown on the single largest facing LED screen in Times Square.

The USA vs. Russia freestyle wrestling dual meet will begin at 6 p.m., following a card of exhibition matches featuring young athletes who wrestle in the Beat the Streets youth program, as well as high school wrestlers from the Public School Athletic League and the Catholic High School Athletic Association, which will begin at 3 p.m. MEDIA AVAILABILITY FOR THE TWO TEAMS WILL BE WEDNESDAY AT 2:00 AT THE NEW YORK ATHLETIC CLUB.

FOX College Sports will provide a taped-delayed broadcast of the “Battle on Broadway,” with Jason Bryant of USA Wrestling handling play-by-play and Olympic champion Rulon Gardner doing the color commentary. Gardner will be one of a host of elite athletes attending the event Thursday. Others include: Olympians Dan Gable, Jeff Blatnick, Kurt Angle, Tom Brands and Kendall Cross, as well as NCAA champions Anthony Robles, Bubba Jenkins and Darrion Caldwell. Current UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, NFL stars Justin Tuck, Antonio Garay, Marcus Colston and Willie Colon and celebrities Billy Baldwin, Matthew Modine and Nate Parker will also be on hand.

There are already four airdates scheduled, starting on Saturday, May 21 at 6:00 p.m. and 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time and Sunday, May 22 at 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. As many as 20 airings are expected. If you are unsure what channels in your area carry Fox College Sports programming, check your cable or satellite provider's listings.

There will also be a pair of live webcasts provided by popular wrestling websites.

TheMat.com will provide a live stream from the event, with veteran wrestling announcer Scott Casber and USA Wrestling National Teams Director Mitch Hull on the microphone.

Flowrestling will also webcast the event live, with Joe Williamson and Mark Bader making the call.

Each year, the Beat the Streets Gala is held to celebrate wrestling and raise funds for Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc., the successful program which has provided wrestling opportunities for thousands of middle school and high school students in New York City.

The Beat the Streets Reception and Awards Ceremony is set for the Hard Rock Café, 1501 Broadway in New York City, starting at 7:30 p.m. There will be a live musical performance by country music legend John Rich at the function.



2011 BEAT THE STREETS GALA

New York Is Wrestling

Battle on Broadway

Duffy Square – Times Square at 46th Street in New York, N.Y., May 5