Beat the Streets Bay Area
Founded in 2019, Beat the Streets Bay Area is committed to improving the lives of girls and boys through exposure to the sport of wrestling. Beat the Streets Bay Area seeks to engage each child in a way unique to youth athletics - focusing holistically on the full human and athletic potential of our athletes.
We will provide positive role models and mentorship for participating wrestlers, as well as structural guidance and oversight for partner school districts. We will help our athletes mature into self-confident, responsible, and engaged citizens who are eager to live productive lives and become contributing members of their communities. We will focus on leadership, college readiness, and career pathways in local industry, specifically technology due to proximity.
It is with great excitement we officially announce the hiring of John Lange as our full-time Executive Director for Beat the Streets Bay Area.
With over two decades of dedicated leadership in coaching, business and construction, John Lange is ready to bring his expertise to the nonprofit sector. Most recently serving as the Director of Project Management at Construction Testing Services, Inc., John is poised to channel his skills into driving positive change in the Bay Area wrestling community.
Beyond his professional achievements, John's journey is uniquely shaped by his background as an All-American Wrestler at Penn State University. As a four-year letter winner and Big Ten Champion, he not only brings tenacity and discipline but a deep understanding of teamwork, resilience, and strategic thinking. These attributes are invaluable for navigating the challenges faced by Beat the Streets in seeking to make a meaningful impact.
John's Division 1 college coaching experience further underscores his ability to lead and nurture talent, translating seamlessly into his passion for community service. His community involvement includes serving as a board member on Livermore Little League Baseball and volunteering as a wrestling coach at Livermore High School.
In transitioning to lead Beat the Streets Bay Area, John Lange stands ready to infuse his leadership with purpose, leveraging his strategic acumen and collaborative spirit to contribute to a cause greater than himself.
Programs
Fall South Bay Season
We serve five elementary school sites across San Jose and Sunnyvale to serve approximately 125 kids over the course of an 9 week program with 3 competition opportunities.
Spring Oakland Season
We serve five middle school programs in Oakland over the course of a 9 week program with 3 competition opportunities.
Summer Oakland Program with Aim High
We serve three middle school sites in Oakland in partnership with Aim High to run an 8 week program with a capstone event at the conclusion.
Volunteering + Events
Spring Gala Fundraiser
Each spring we have an annual fundraiser. In 2023, Jewel did a benefit for our organization at The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park. We successfully raised $250K for BTSBA and Wrestlers in Business Network - NorCal!
Community Engagement Events
In Fall 2023, we had our first-every community engagement event "Return to the Mat". We had a wrestling clinic hosted by Board Member Travis Lee, then an exhibition match night and "Best Throw" contest amongst high school participants.