"I remember being at the grassroots level of its first events and also paralleling that with the growth and what they were doing in the inner city, so I watched it grow tremendously."
Jordan Burroughs, a six-time world champion wrestler and Olympic gold medalist, is gearing up to compete against Chance Marsteller at Final X on June 10th. Burroughs won this event in a best-of-three battle against Marsteller last year, and is expected to put on another impressive performance this year. However, before the event, Burroughs took a moment to reflect on his personal connection to Beat the Streets wrestling and the profound impact it has had on him and young athletes from urban communities.
Burroughs spoke passionately about his involvement with Beat the Streets, emphasizing the importance of the program in empowering young people and fostering a sense of community and belonging. Burroughs has been actively involved with Beat the Streets, conducting clinics and participating in the organization's events in various cities. He expressed his appreciation for the opportunity to impact young people of his skin color through the sport of wrestling, which was not considered "cool" in his predominantly black neighborhood growing up. Burroughs emphasized the transformative power of the sport in cultivating character development and providing opportunities for young people. He also praised the commitment of the men who have partnered with Beat the Streets to develop the next generation.
"I love what they do at the organization," Burroughs said in a recent Zoom press conference. He has seen firsthand the growth and impact of Beat the Streets, having been involved with the organization since its grassroots level. "I was kind of on the cutting edge when this organization started," he said. "I remember being at the grassroots level of its first events and also paralleling that with the growth and what they were doing in the inner city, so I watched it grow tremendously."
Brendan Buckley, Executive Director for Beat the Streets, expressed his appreciation for Jordan Burroughs' involvement, stating that "it's not a Beat the Streets benefit unless Jordan's involved." Buckley further added that "the wrestling talent and stardom and success that he has is a big part of it but equally if not more important, is the kind of role model that he is."
Through his words, Burroughs highlights the importance of programs like Beat the Streets in empowering young people and fostering a sense of community and belonging. His personal connection to the organization and his dedication to its mission serve as a testament to the transformative power of wrestling in shaping the lives of young people from underprivileged communities. This Final X event, not only does it showcase the talents of elite wrestlers, but also serves as a reminder of the positive impact that wrestling has on today's youth.
Final X Matchups
Women’s Freestyle Matchups
50 kg: Sarah Hildebrandt vs Audrey Jimenez
53 kg: Dominique Parrish vs Katie Gomez
55 kg: Alisha Howk vs Jacarra Winchester
57 kg: Helen Maroulis vs Xochitl Mota-Pettis
59 kg: Michaela Beck vs Jennifer Page
62 kg: Kayla Miracle vs Adaugo Nwachukwu
65 kg: Mallory Velte vs Macey Kilty
68 kg: Forrest Molinari vs Emma Bruntil
72 kg: Amit Elor vs Joye Levendusky
76 kg: Kennedy Blades vs Adeline Gray
Men’s Freestyle Matchups
57 kg: Thomas Gilman vs Zane Richards
61 kg: Vito Arujau vs Nahshon Garrett
65 kg: Yianni Diakomihalis vs Nick Lee
70 kg: Zain Retherford vs Tyler Berger
74 kg: Kyle Dake vs Jason Nolf
79 kg: Jordan Burroughs vs Chance Marsteller
86 kg: David Taylor vs Aaron Brooks
92 kg: Michael Macchiavello vs Zahid Valencia
97kg: Kyle Snyder vs J’den Cox
125 kg: Gable Steveson vs Mason Parris
Greco-Roman Matchups
55 kg: Brady Koontz vs Dalton Duffield
60 kg: Dalton Roberts vs Ildar Hafizov
63 kg: Hayden Tuma vs Xavier Johnson
67 kg: Robert Perez III vs Alejandro Sancho
72 kg: Justus Scott vs Patrick Smith
77 kg: Kamal Bey vs Aliaksandr Kikiniou
82 kg: Spencer Woods vs Ryan Epps
87 kg: Alan Vera vs Zachary Braunagel
97 kg: Josef Rau vs Christian Dulaney
130 kg: Cohlton Schultz vs Adam Coon
Ryan Hayes
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