Beat the Streets USA Wrestling, an organization dedicated to giving at-risk urban children the chance to wrestle, announced two new participating cities added this month, Orlando, Fla. and Pensacola, Fla.

These cities join Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Hartford, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, New York city, Norfolk, Philadelphia, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tallahassee and Toledo in the Beat the Streets family.

Leading the Orlando branch will be Mike Palazzo, the head wrestling coach at Lake Highland Preparatory School in Orlando. 

Frank Oliveri, a highly successful retired high school coach from New York State, will supervise the effort in Pensacola.

In addition, Beat the Streets recognized two outstanding young athletes for their recent academic accomplishments at the annual Morgan State University Mathematics, Engineering and Science Fair in Baltimore, Md.

Zachariah McDowell, a student and wrestler for Beat the Streets-W.E.B. Dubois High School in Baltimore, won the fair, placing first in both the overall competition and the Engineering Division. McDowell’s winning project was an underwater robot that he designed and built himself that could be controlled via remote. McDowell has advanced to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, the world's largest international pre-college science competition, taking place in May in Pheonix, Ariz.

Another impressive project was submitted by Litchfield Agajavon, Beat the Streets-Roland Park Elementary/Middle School wrestler, who completed a project titled, “Is it easier for people to remember words, numbers or stories?” His project included a study on neurology and cognitive memory. 

The mission of the Beat the Streets program is to get kids off the street and onto a wrestling mat. Beat the Streets has provided thousands of school-aged children the opportunity to become part of a team and has provided a meaningful and fun activity that stimulates the mind and trains the body.

Individuals and organizations interested in more information on Beat the Streets USA Wrestling may visit the organization’s website or Facebook page or contact Al Belivacqua at (631) 793-2036 or albevi@optonline.net.