“Beat The Streets’ Grapple In The Apple 2012” Raises Record $1.4 Million For New York City Area Youth Wrestling and Education Programs
Landmark Event at Roseland Ballroom Followed USA-Russia Dual Meet, U.S. Olympic Team Qualifier in Front of Over 20,000 People in Times Square
“Grapple In The Apple,” the 2012 fundraiser for New York City youth wrestling programs staged by the grassroots not-for-profit group “Beat The Streets,” raised a record $1.4 million dollars last Thursday at Times Square and the Roseland Ballroom. The event, held for the second straight year in Times Square, saw the U.S. Olympic freestyle wrestling team heading to the London Games this summer defeat Russia in a dual meet 4-3, while wrestler Coleman Scott defeated challengers Shawn Bunch and Reece Humphrey in a wrestle-off to take the final spot on the 2012 Olympic team. An estimated crowd of over 20,000 watched the matches, which began under bright sunshine at 1 p.m. and ended with Scott’s win under the bright lights just after 8 p.m.
“We want to thank all who came out to support us and raise these essential funds for the wrestling programs in the inner city,” said Mike Novogratz, Beat The Streets Chairman. “The exhibition put on by our Olympic team was thrilling, and we have to set the bar very high for what we can do to continue to grow in 2013.”
The Gala also honored a host of athletes and contributors to wrestling during the evening. They included:
Become Your Own Dream Scholarship: Amanda Jackson - Scholars’ Academy and Ahmed Elsayed - Wingate Campus
Middle School Wrestler of the Year: Leonard Merkin - IS 98
Male Student-Athlete Award Winner: Cristian Masaya - Brooklyn Tech
Female Student-Athlete Award Winner: Sandy Wu - Townsend Harris
Atlas Award Winner: Cheick Ndiaye - Brooklyn International High School
Lady Liberty Award Winner: Rosemary Flores - Curtis
Junior League Coach of the Year: Joe DiForte - Staten Island Lions
High School Assistant Coach of the Year: Chris LaCarrubba - Brooklyn Tech
High School Coach of the Year: John McGarry - Eagle Academy for Young Men
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jim Regan - Martin Luther High School
Men of the Year: United States Freestyle Olympic Team
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 volunteer@beat-the-streets.org.
