Thursday, June 2, 2022
Tables & Sponsorship Opportunities Available
We invite you to a unique evening of cocktails and dinner, followed by wrestling matches featuring several local and world-class athletes.
5:00 pm: VIP Reception
5:30 pm: Cocktail Hour
6:30 pm: Dinner & Introduction
7:30 pm: Main Event – Live Wrestling Matches
Detroit Athletic Club
241 Madison St. | Detroit, MI 48226
View Event Dress Code
We are proud to welcome back to the mat our Beat the Streets Detroit Founder and Catholic Central’s own Coach Michael RodriGuez!
“Coach Rod” embodies the spirit of wrestlers and wrestling, starting humbly and repeatedly enduring, surviving, then thriving.
In his early years, Coach Rod was a member of the University of Michigan basketball team until he was cut between his second and third year by a new coach who wanted to build his team around height. Coach Rod wasn’t happy about it and took it out on the mat. He ultimately graduated as one of the most decorated Michigan wrestlers in history, earning honors as a three-time Big Ten champion and two-time NCAA finalist. Coach even went on to place fifth at the World Championships in Japan.
After that, Coach Rod went home and paid it all back. To this day, Coach Rod remains one of the winningest wrestling coaches in Michigan history. Throughout his 40+ year coaching career, “Coach Rod” led hundreds of Shamrock wrestlers and the powerhouse Catholic Central wrestling program to seven state championship titles!
In his early retirement in his mid-70’s, Coach Rod continued to positively influence many lives by starting Beat the Streets Detroit in southwest Detroit. Thank you, Coach Rod, for your incredible leadership and giving spirit!
Main Event
Live Wrestling Matches Featuring World-Class and Local Athletes
Match Card will be announced April 10th!
The Mission
Beat the Streets Detroit’s (BTSD) mission is to improve the long-term outcomes for area youth. Yes, all sports are good, but wrestling is great at conveying traits such as determination, accountability, self-discipline, goal-setting, and even courage.
By creating and fostering a wrestling culture in Detroit, one which also deeply embraces the importance of learning and academics, we can help young adults to develop not only physically but also academically and emotionally.
We are the umbrella under which like-minded wrestling programs organize to improve the lives of children (especially those under-served, underrepresented and underprivileged) through the sport of wrestling. Under the guidance of our experienced coaches, tutors, and mentors, Detroit-area youth are challenged, elevated, and equipped with necessary building blocks for success in both school and life.
Why Wrestling?
Wrestling is the perfect tool to deliver life skills to its participants. This is especially true in the inner city. Through wrestling, kids are not only physically fit, but develop a strong work ethic, learn perseverance and personal accountability.
Wrestlers are tenacious, hard working, productive members of society. Did you know that:
“Wrestlers and wrestling coaches are among the most disciplined and self sacrificing people I have ever known.”
– John Irving
Renowned Author, Academy Award Winner and Wrestler
