Princeton, NJ – On November 5, 2017, 21 students and 4 coaches traveled to Princeton University to participate in the first college visit of the 2017-18 school year. As part of the NWCA All-Star Classic, hosted by the Wrestlers In Business Network, BYW students would join over 100 student-athletes from other affiliate “Beat The Streets” cities, including Providence (RI), New York City, Philadelphia (PA), and Trenton (NJ). Our incredibly dedicated students met at the BYW offices at 3:30 AM to get on the road in order to arrive on time for the first activities of the day. The day began at 9:00 AM with a campus tour led by current Princeton wrestlers. Students were awed by the picturesque campus, as were the coaches. Brad Lewis, Head Coach for Excel Academy (East Boston), knew that this experience was special for his kids. Lewis said, “I like that we can take advantage of an opportunity to show our kids the absolute best. They were able to tour one of the best colleges in the country, and learn from the best wrestlers in the world. That experience is absolutely invaluable.”

Students then returned to the Jadwin Gymnasium to get on the mats and participate in an absolutely star-studded wrestling clinic led by 2016 Olympic Gold Medalists Kyle Snyder and Helen Maroulis, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Brandon Slay, and Associate Head Coach Joe Dubuque of Princeton University. Students worked on fundamental techniques from each of the clinicians, and all left the two-hour clinic with new skills to bring to the mats this school year. Jason Nuñez from Excel Academy (East Boston) paid particular close attention to what each of the coaches had to say: “I think I’m going to do what Coach Slay said. He talked about how you need to put the work into be good at something, and work hard in all areas of your life. I’d heard that before, but it felt like it meant more coming from someone like him”

After an organized lunch with all of the participating urban programs in attendance, our BYW wrestlers were ready to watch some terrific collegiate wrestling at the NWCA All-Star Classic with some of the top male and female collegiate wrestlers participating. The event did not disappoint. Taylor Phillips, a first year wrestler from Excel Academy (East Boston) said, “I felt like it was really fun and educational. I liked learning all the new moves, and I’m excited to perfect some of them this season!”