Beat the Streets Detroit Blog:
DCC Makes a Visit and Accountability
By: Anthony Biondo

Beat the Streets Detroit is very well represented with solid coaches that help form a great foundation for the kids. The head coach and main director of BTS Detroit is Mike Rodriguez, a high school coaching legend with 702 career victories and a two-time NCAA runner up in his own right. Coach Rod is definitely an excellent person to be mentoring and molding the kids. Also helping out is Coach Dennis Duvall of Cesar Chavez Academy in Detroit, and several of his high school wrestlers.  Coach Duvall and his wrestlers give a goal and platform for the BTS kids to one day aspire to. Having these coaches around is such an advantage to the young wrestlers.

Last week, the wrestlers received a special treat when Coach Mitch Hancock and a dozen or so of his wrestlers from Detroit Catholic Central came to instruct and coach at Beat the Streets. Coach Hancock guided the Shamrocks to a state title in 2010 and a state runner up finish in 2011.  Coach Hancock and his wrestlers were great interacting with the kids, showing them new techniques, and exposing them to a new way of doing things – both on and off the mat. The wrestlers thoroughly enjoyed their visit.

Also, last Thursday was “pay day.” Beat the Streets is all about teaching the wrestlers more than just wrestling moves. BTS is about life lessons that these young kids can carry on with them for many years to come. One of the main pillars Coach Rod and Coach Duvall stress is accountability.  In wrestling and in life, you need to be accountable for your actions.  If each kid comes to practice each day during the week, shows up on time ready to go, works diligently, and listens well, they receive $5 each Thursday as a reward. The goal is that in the long run the money was the initial incentive and reward for achieving a goal, but eventually they learn so much more.