John Carroll Wrestling Partners with Beat The Streets Cleveland on Clinic

6/17/2022 11:01:00 AM | By: Joe Ginley '16, SID

John Carroll hosted about 100 students from Monday-Thursday for a camp that included not just wrestling instruction, but guest speakers and recreational activities.

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Over the last several years, John Carroll Wrestling has partnered with Beat The Streets Cleveland. This week, JCU Wrestling and Beat The Streets Cleveland teamed up for an immersive overnight camp.

About 100 students in grades 6-12 spent Monday through Thursday at John Carroll for the program, which featured not just wrestling instruction, but educational speakers and recreational activities.

Overall, the main goals were to provide an opportunity for students to experience a college campus and to grow. Both of those goals were certainly achieved, with a positive experience for the young students in attendance.

"This is an amazing experience for the kids," said JCU Wrestling Coach Mark Hawald. "We hope to continue the partnership. It's all about providing opportunities for these students to learn and grow in a wide number of ways."

Demetrius Williams '07, '14G is the Executive Director of Beat The Streets Cleveland, which is one of 11 accredited Beat The Streets chapters. The organization aims to "positively alter life's trajectory for K-12 student-athletes in the City of Cleveland by giving them access to youth development, mentoring, and wrestling." Students from Beat The Streets Baltimore also came for the camp.

With a wide variety of programming over the 4-day clinic, the students in attendance grew plenty from the experience.

"For a lot of the kids, this is their first time even being on a campus, or staying in a dorm. It's an immersive experience," Williams explained. "Students asked us, 'This is what college is like?' Add in a couple classes, and yes it is, with the freedom and chance to interact with people you've never met before. We had all kinds of different people from different backgrounds and demographics creating that bond. This is not a wrestling camp, it's a youth development and mentoring camp that includes wrestling. Our goal is to create quality young men and women of the future by exposing them to different opportunities and experiences."

Throughout the week, JCU Wrestling and Beat The Streets Cleveland brought in speakers from a range of backgrounds. Amongst the speakers were Mike Hollins '17 (JCU's new Assistant Athletic Director for Student Success and Leadership), an Iraq War veteran, a nutritionist, and an entrepreneur. On the wrestling side, many volunteered their time to teach, including Division I head coaches, Division I All-Americans, Division III National Championships, and local high school coaches.

For Williams, John Carroll was a transformative experience, and he hopes to pass that along to students in the program.

"Coming to John Carroll changed my life," said Williams. "I was a first-generation college student in my family. When I came to this campus, I left a totally different person. If it can happen for me, it can happen for others. Mark understands the vision. For our kids, this could be their foundation and a launching point to the rest of their lives."

As Hawald attests, anyone can help.

"Coaching young people is a very broad thing. Anyone who wants to get involved in it should get involved," said Hawald. "If you're reading this article and you think it's great, we want to hear from you and we want your help. Whether it's donations or speaking or whatever it might be, we need your help to continue this experience for young students."

Williams likewise encourages folks to help the program success.

"Anything will help, but we especially need money to provide more opportunities. The funding allows us to do camps, trips, and opportunities," said Williams. "We're taking kids to Chicago in a couple weeks for a tournament. In July, we're hoping to take students to Spain. We're trying to create unique opportunities to change lives by eliminating barriers, which is why we provide shirts, shoes, headgear for the kids. All of that is a cost associated with it. Folks can go to our website and make a donation, any contribution is greatly appreciated."

Click here to learn more about Beat The Streets Cleveland.

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