newjerseynewsroom.com

BY JERRY MILANI

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Camden native Jordan Burroughs probably never thought that his wrestling career would bring him to the bright lights of Broadway. But that’s where the Sicklerville resident will be when he is part of an elite Olympic class team that will battle a top Russian team in New York’s Duffy Square, next Thursday, May 5.

Burroughs, who competes for the University of Nebraska, captured his second straight NCAA title in March in Philadelphia, just across the river from his home, and will look to help use this match, part of a massive fundraiser and awareness night for the not-for-profit group "Beat The Streets," as the next step towards potential Olympic glory next summer in London.

Although primarily based in New York, Beat The Streets has a strong and growing presence in Camden as well. The organization uses the life skills taught by wrestling to give young people, boys as well as girls, an alternative to the distractions and issues many inner city kids face each day. The program has helped create wrestling programs in a host of high schools where wrestling was not offered, and has created a new pathway through athletics for thousands of youth who may never have found the sport, or a way to college without it.

Burroughs, who is now a three time All-American and two time NCAA Champion as well as the winner of the Hodge Trophy, is one of the greatest examples of what Beat the Streets has done for kids. He also captured his first U.S. Open national freestyle title in April.

He will meet rising Russian star Aniuar Geduev in a 163 pound matchup in “The Crossroads of the World” next Thursday, and will be one of six Americans taking on the Russian team in the event, which will be free to the public and is designed to raise awareness for the sport and the program. The American squad will feature a host of Olympic and national champions, including Henry Cejudo, who was the only Hispanic American in any sport to capture a gold medal in Beijing three summers ago.

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. The event will feature live musical performance by country music legend John Rich. All the details on the competitors and the event can be found at www.beat-the-streets.org.