JEFF BLATNICK, RASHAD EVANS, KURT ANGLE, DAN GABLE, RULON GARDNER AMONG ELITE ATHLETES AND CELEBRITIES TO ATTEND USA-RUSSIA DUAL MEET AND 'BEAT THE STREETS' GALA THURSDAY IN TIMES SQUARE 

Former Olympians, NCAA Champions, UFC And NFL Stars Join With Celebs For One-of-A-Kind Event In Times Square

NEW YORK, May 2, 2011- Some of the biggest names in the history of wrestling and mixed martial arts will join with other supporters from the NFL, television and movies in New York’s Duffy Square this Thursday night when the USA meets Russia in a one-of-a-kind dual meet at “The Crossroads of The World.”  Some of the most legendary names from Olympic and NCAA competition, including Olympic champions Dan Gable, Rulon Gardner, Jeff Blatnick, Kurt Angle, Tom Brands and Kendall Cross, as well as NCAA champions Anthony Robles, Bubba Jenkins and Darrion Caldwell will be on hand for the matchup, which will feature some of the world’s most promising and accomplished wrestlers.

Among the stars competing are Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Cejudo, two-time NCAA champion and New Jersey native Jordan Burroughs, two-time NCAA champions Jake Varner, Jake Herbert, Brent Metcalf and others meeting the defending world champion Russians. 

Joining those elite champions will be former Michigan State wrestler and current UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans, as well as current NFL stars Justin Tuck, Antonio Garay, Marcus Colston and Willie Colon.  Celebrities expected to be in attendance are Beat The Streets supporters Billy Baldwin, Matthew Modine and Nate Parker among others.

The event will be held in Duffy Square in New York City, located in the historic Times Square setting at 46th Street. The event is free to the public and will also be streamed live on TheMat.com by USA Wrestling and be shown on the single largest facing LED screen in Times Square. The USA vs. Russia freestyle wrestling dual meet will begin at 6 p.m., following a card of exhibition matches featuring young athletes who wrestle in the Beat the Streets youth program, as well as high school wrestlers from the Public School Athletic League and the Catholic High School Athletic Association, which will begin at 3 p.m. 

Each year, the Beat the Streets Gala is held to celebrate wrestling and raise funds for Beat the Streets Wrestling, Inc., the successful program which has provided wrestling opportunities for thousands of middle school and high school students in New York City.
 
This is the second straight year in which a major Olympic-style competition has been featured as part of the Beat the Streets Gala. 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.

The Beat the Streets Reception and Awards Ceremony is set for the Hard Rock Café, 1501 Broadway in New York City, starting at 7:30 p.m. There will be a live musical performance by country music legend John Rich at the function.

2011 BEAT THE STREETS GALA
New York Is Wrestling
Battle on Broadway
Duffy Square – Times Square at 46th Street in New York, N.Y., May 5

USA vs. Russia Freestyle Dual Meet matches
55 kg/121 lbs. – Henry Cejudo (USA) vs. Rasul Mashezov (Russia)
60 kg/132 lbs. – Shawn Bunch (USA) vs. Rasul Murtazaliev (Russia)
66 kg/145.5 lbs. – Brent Metcalf (USA) vs. Magomedmurad Gadzhiev (Russia)
74 kg/163 lbs. – Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs. Aniuar Geduev (Russia)
84 kg/185 lbs. – Jake Herbert (USA) vs. Andrey Valiev (Russia)
96 kg/211.5 lbs. –Jake Varner (USA) vs. Shamil Akhmedov (Russia)
120 kg/264.5 lbs. – Tervel Dlagnev (USA) vs. Barsag Kesaev (Russia)

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 info@beat-the-streets.org.