NEW YORK– Olympic and World medalists headline the United States lineup against Cuba in men’s freestyle for the Beat the Streets Annual Benefit, dubbed the “Rumble on the River,” set for May 17 at Pier 17/Seaport District in lower Manhattan.

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These U.S. stars will face a talented Cuban team of men’s freestyle wrestlers as part of the exciting card of international competition. Cuba also brings a veteran team with past Olympic, World and Pan American medalists.

2016 Olympic champion and two-time World champion Kyle Snyder will compete in the Beat the Streets Benefit for the fourth time in his career. Snyder was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time finalist for Ohio State, and also boasts a Junior World title. He will face 2013 and 2014 World silver medalist Reineris Salas Perez at 97 kg at the Rumble on the River.

2016 Olympic bronze medalist and 2017 World bronze medalist J’den Cox will enter his second Beat the Streets Benefit, after also competing in 2016. Cox was a three-time NCAA champion and four-time All-American for Missouri. He has drawn 2015 Pan American champion Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta at 92 kg this year.

Two-time World bronze medalist James Green will wrestle in his second straight Beat the Streets Benefit at 70 kg. Green was a four-time All-American for Nebraska, and a University World silver medalist. He will battle Two-time Pan American champion Franklin Maren Castillo.

2017 World bronze medalist Nick Gwiazdowski, a native of Duanesburg, N.Y., is in his second straight Beat the Streets Benefit. Gwiazdowski won two New York state high school titles, then started his college career at Binghamton, where he was an All-American. “The Gwizz” transferred to NC State, where he was a two-time NCAA champion and three-time finalist. He will battle two-time Pan American Championships silver medalist Yudenny Alapajon Estevez at 125 kg/275 lbs.

Another native New Yorker on the roster is four-time NCAA champion Kyle Dake, who is in his second Beat the Streets Benefit after competing in the 2013 Rumble on the Rails. Dake was a two-time New York state champion and three-time finalist for Lansing High School, and went to nearby Cornell. Dake became the first wrestler to win four NCAA Div. I titles in four different weight classes. He has been on four U.S. Freestyle National Teams. Dake will wrestle 2012 Olympic bronze medalist and three-time World medalist Livan Lopez Azcuy at 79 kg.

The other U.S. entry against Cuba is Josh Rodriguez, who will compete in his first Beat the Streets Benefit. Rodriguez was a three-time NCAA qualifier for North Dakota State, and is currently training full-time in freestyle at the Nittany Lion WC at Penn State. Rodriguez was third in the 2017 U23 World Team Trials. He will face 2017 U23 World champion Reineri Andreeu Ortega is competing at 57 kg.

This is the second time a Cuban team has competed in a Beat the Streets Benefit. A team of men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers were included in the 2015 Beat the Streets Benefit “Salsa in the Square,” held in Times Square.

Two other U.S. men’s freestyle stars will compete in Super Matches against opponents who are not from Cuba. 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist and four-time World champion Jordan Burroughs will battle two-time World champion and Olympic medalist Frank Chamizo of Italy, and American standout Jordan Oliver challenges two-time Olympic Medalist Togrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan.

The Beat the Streets Benefit will have a wonderful variety of competition. The Team USA women, whose roster includes Helen Maroulis, Alli Ragan and Tamyra Mensah-Stock, will take on a highly-regarded squad from Nigeria. A Super High School Match has been scheduled, featuring the nation’s top scholastic 126-lb. star in Patrick Glory of Delbarton H.S. (N.J.) against third-ranked Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson Morgan H.S. (Pa.).

This year will mark the first time that Beat the Streets has held its annual event at Pier 17/South Street District. 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.

This will be the ninth 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. Times Square has been the venue for the 2011, 2012 and 2014-2017 events.

This year, top Beat the Streets youth wrestlers will take the mat showcasing their skills in exhibition matches beginning at 2:30 p.m. to kick off the NYC Benefit. For the third 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. an international squad at 6:00 p.m. and super matches between Burroughs and Chamizo, as well as Oliver and Asgarov, with video highlights and special guest appearances followed by the Beat the Streets Benefit Celebration.

Tickets are required for entry and can be purchased by visiting www.btsny.org, calling 212-777-5702 or emailing Joe DelConte at jdelconte@btsny.org.

The Benefit Celebration at Pier 17 will follow the wrestling competition. This unique and electrifying annual event helps Beat the Streets 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.

2018 Beat the Streets Benefit, “Rumble on the River”
The Seaport District/Pier 17, New York City, May 17, 2018

USA Men’s Freestyle Roster to face Cuba
57 kg/125.5 lbs. – Josh Rodriguez, State College, Pa. (Nittany Lion WC)
70 kg/154 lbs – James Green, Lincoln, Neb. (Sunkist Kids/Nebraska WTC)
79 kg/174 lbs. – Kyle Dake, Ithaca, N.Y. (Titan Mercury WC/Finger Lakes WC)
92 kg/202 lbs. – J’den Cox, Columbia, Mo. (Titan Mercury WC/Missouri WF)
97 kg/213 lbs. – Kyle Snyder, Columbus, Ohio (Titan Mercury WC/Ohio RTC)
125 kg/275 lbs. – Nick Gwiazdowski, Raleigh, N.C. (Titan Mercury WC/Wolfpack RTC)

Wrestling Schedule
2:30 p.m. – Beat the Streets Youth Exhibition Matches
4:45 p.m. – New York City Girls Freestyle Dual Meet Championships Finals
6:00 p.m. – World Class Wrestling to include:
• Team USA vs. Nigeria in women’s freestyle
57 kg - Helen Maroulis (USA) vs. Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigeria)
59 kg - Alli Ragan (USA) vs. Adeniyi Aminat (Nigeria)
68 kg - Tamyra Stock (USA) vs. Blessing Oborududu (Nigeria)
• Team USA vs. Cuba in men’s freestyle
57 kg – Josh Rodriguez (USA) vs. Reineri Andreu Ortega (Cuba)
70 kg – James Green (USA) vs. Franklin Maren Castillo (Cuba)
79 kg – Kyle Dake (USA) vs. Livan Lopez Azcuy (Cuba)
92 kg – J’den Cox (USA) vs. Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta (Cuba)
97 kg – Kyle Snyder (USA) vs. Reineris Salas Perez (Cuba)
125 kg– Nick Gwiazdowski (USA) vs. Yudenny Alapajon Estevez (Cuba)
• High School Super Match, Patrick Glory vs. Gavin Teasdale (time TBD)
• Super Match 1 – Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs. Frank Chamizo (ITA)
• Super Match 2 – Jordan Oliver (USA) vs. Togrul Asgarov (AZE) (time TBD)
Followed by Annual Benefit Celebration, Pier 17