Alejandro Valdes Tobier (Photo/Tony Rotundo, WrestlersAreWarriors.com)NEW YORK -- The wrestling federation of Cuba has provided its lineup for the Beat the Streets Annual Benefit, dubbed the "Rumble on the River," set for May 17 at Pier 17/Seaport District in lower Manhattan.
A team of talented men's freestyle wrestlers from Cuba will face top U.S. wrestlers as part of the exciting card of international competition. Cuba brings a veteran team with past Olympic, World and Pan American medalists.
2012 Olympic bronze medalist Livan Lopez Azcuy will compete at 79 kg. He boasts three other World medals, including World silver medalist in 2011 and 2013 and a World bronze medal in 2014.
2013 and 2014 World silver medalist Reineris Salas Perez, who was also fifth at the 2016 Olympics, will compete at 97 kg/213 lbs. Salas was a 2015 Pan American Games champion.
2016 Olympian Alejandro Valdes Tobier, who won a 2017 World bronze medal, will compete at 70 kg. Valdes has won three Pan American Championships.
2015 Pan American champion Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta is on the team at 92 kg. 2017 U23 World champion Reineri Andreeu Ortega is competing at 57 kg. Two-time Pan American Championships silver medalist Yudenny Alapajon Estevez is the Cuban entry at 125 kg/275 lbs.
This is the second time a Cuban team has competed in a Beat the Streets Benefit. A team of men's freestyle, women's freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestlers were included in the 2015 Beat the Streets Benefit "Salsa in the Square," held in Times Square.
The U.S. men's freestyle roster for the Beat the Streets Benefit will be announced tomorrow.
The Beat the Streets Benefit is coming together nicely, with most pieces in place. The Team USA women, whose roster includes Helen Maroulis, Alli Ragan and Tamyra Mensah-Stock, will take on a highly-regarded squad from Nigeria. In addition, two Super Matches will take place, with 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist Jordan Burroughs battling Italian Frank Chamizo, and American standout Jordan Oliver challenging two-time Olympic Medalist Togrul Asgarov of Azerbaijan. In addition, a Super High School Match has been scheduled, featuring the nation's top scholastic 126-lb. star in Patrick Glory of Delbarton H.S. (N.J.) against third-ranked Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson Morgan H.S. (Pa.).
This year will mark the first time that Beat the Streets has held its annual event at Pier 17/South Street District. In 2013, the event dubbed "The Rumble on the Rails," was hosted in historic Grand Central Terminal and featured dual meets between Team USA, Russia and Iran. Playing an important role in the international Keep Olympic Wrestling effort, this historic wrestling event gained international media coverage and helped wrestling retain its status on the Olympic Games program.
Coverage will be available live and on-demand exclusively on FloWrestling.com. To access live and on-demand coverage of the Beat the Streets New York City Annual Benefit, visit FloWrestling.com and become a PRO subscriber. A subscription unlocks access to premium content across the entire FloSports network, as well as the matches from the Beat the Streets program starting at 2:30 p.m. ET on May 17. Watch the event across all screens by downloading the FloSports app on iOS, Roku or Apple TV 4.
This will be the ninth straight year in which a major international-style wrestling competition will be hosted as part of the Beat the Streets Benefit activities. 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. Times Square has been the venue for the 2011, 2012 and 2014-2017 events.
This year, top Beat the Streets youth wrestlers will take the mat showcasing their skills in exhibition matches beginning at 2:30 p.m. to kick off the NYC Benefit. For the third straight year, the Benefit will feature the PSAL Girls Freestyle Dual Meet Championships finals, showcasing the two top New York City girl's freestyle wrestling high school teams from the spring girl's freestyle season. Then it's Team USA vs. an international squad at 6:00 p.m. and super matches between Burroughs and Chamizo, as well as Oliver and Asgarov, with video highlights and special guest appearances followed by the Beat the Streets Benefit Celebration.
Tickets are required for entry and can be purchased by visiting www.btsny.org, calling 212-777-5702 or emailing Joe DelConte at jdelconte@btsny.org.
The Benefit Celebration at Pier 17 will follow the wrestling competition. This unique and electrifying annual event helps Beat the Streets raise significant funds to further its mission. Whether it's providing a safe, constructive outlet for our urban youth, fighting childhood obesity, empowering women, or uniting entire nations, wrestling teaches persistence, dedication, and the value of working hard to achieve one's goals and creates opportunities for personal and universal growth. BTS currently serve over 3,000 student-athletes every year.
2018 Beat the Streets Benefit, "Rumble on the River"
The Seaport District/Pier 17, New York City, May 17, 2018
Cuba Men's Freestyle Roster
57 kg/125.5 lbs. - Reineri Andreeu Ortega
70 kg/154 lbs - Alejandro Enrique Valdes Tobier
79 kg/174 lbs. - Livan Lopez Azcuy
92 kg/189 lbs. - Yurieski Torreblanca Queralta
97 kg/213 lbs. - Reineris Salas Perez
125 kg/275 lbs. - Yudenny Alapajon Estevez
Wrestling Schedule
2:30 p.m. - Beat the Streets Youth Exhibition Matches
4:45 p.m. - New York City Girls Freestyle Dual Meet Championships Finals
6:00 p.m. - World Class Wrestling to include:
• Team USA vs. Nigeria in women's freestyle
57 kg - Helen Maroulis (USA) vs. Odunayo Adekuoroye (Nigeria)
59 kg - Alli Ragan (USA) vs. Adeniyi Aminat (Nigeria)
68 kg - Tamyra Stock (USA) vs. Blessing Oborududu (Nigeria)
• Team USA vs. Cuba in men's freestyle
• High School Super Match, Patrick Glory vs. Gavin Teasdale (time TBD)
• Super Match 1 - Jordan Burroughs (USA) vs. Frank Chamizo (ITA)
• Super Match 2 - Jordan Oliver (USA) vs. Togrul Asgarov (AZE) (time TBD)
Followed by Annual Benefit Celebration, Pier 17
About Beat the Streets
The mission of Beat the Streets is to develop the full potential of the urban youth and to strengthen the culture of New York City wrestling. BTS works directly with the New York City Department of Education in a public-private partnership to bring the life changing sport of wrestling to over 3,000 New York City student-athletes to help them achieve their personal and athletic goals. Through the operation of wrestling programs in middle and high schools in the five boroughs, BTS and the DOE provide a safe, positive atmosphere in which disadvantaged and at-risk youth can learn the essential life lessons of grit, personal responsibility and teamwork, physical fitness and nutrition, and life-long learning. The goal of fostering strong, well-rounded student-athletes is delivered through coaching, after-school programs, life skills workshops, and summer camps. More information can be found at www.btsny.org.
About USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling is the National Governing Body for the Sport of Wrestling in the United States and, as such, is its representative to the United States Olympic Committee and United World Wrestling, the international wrestling federation. Simply, USA Wrestling is the central organization that coordinates amateur wrestling programs in the nation and works to create interest and participation in these programs. It has over 220,000 members across the nation, boys and girls, men and women of all ages, representing all levels of the sport. Its president is Bruce Baumgartner, and its Executive Director is Rich Bender. More information can be found at TheMat.com.
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