Isaiah and his fraternal twin, Elijah, have wrestled in Beat the Streets all year. Elijah, who uses a cane to walk, says his favorite things about wrestling were learning how to defend himself and the competition against other schools.
Murray, who was an All-American wrestler at Rhode Island College, made Elijah captain because he would let him know what was going on with the team and helped the new wrestlers out with pointers.
Stephen Hudson appreciates the physical aspect of Beat the Streets program and how it helps keep his sons in shape. They’re both on the honor roll, but they know that they can’t play sports unless their grades are good.
But even though his sons have enjoyed wrestling, he also encourages them to branch out. The year is divided into four sessions, and kids can choose different programs each time.
Advocates for the after-school programs say kids who participate in them are much more likely to show up and succeed. A study PASA commissioned of 763 middle school students in Providence that tracked them through high school found that the activities motivate kids to come to school and that the longer the students participate in the programs, the better they do academically.
Thirty percent of the kids who didn’t attend the AfterZone were chronically absent, according to the study. But after students participated in the program for thirty or more days, only 12 percent didn’t come to school regularly.
And of the middle schoolers who took part in the after-school offerings for fifty or more days, 97 percent later graduated from high school. The graduation rate for the Providence school system has improved in recent years, but the city is still looking to increase that number. It is now about 73 percent.
Beat the Streets keeps tabs on how their kids are doing in school. The wrestlers are required to take behavior and grade reports to their teachers and bring them back to their coaches.
In the beginning, Murray says he had kids who had detention every day. So he pulled them aside and asked them why.
Teachers and the AfterZone staff tell Murray that the grades and behavior of the kids on his team have improved.
He wishes he could coach them for more than two days a week, so he could have more of an impact. But he says the kids who are really into wrestling are always asking questions to improve themselves: How is that kid better? Why is he better? How can I get better?
Part of it is that students like the Hudson brothers and Giselle are trying things out, and the AfterZone gives them the chance to sample all kinds of activities. But middle school kids are also pretty easily distracted and might not have transportation in the summertime.
Giselle’s enthusiasm for wrestling flagged a bit during the second session of the year, Murray says. She loves competing and wants to do well in school, but at the same time, she likes to hang out with her friends during wrestling practice. But she rededicated herself later in the year, which has shown in her performance.
The afternoon of the meet, she’s paired up against a girl named Elena from Roger Williams. They meet in the circle in the center of the mat. Giselle assumes the top position behind her and wraps her arms around Elena’s middle.
As they grapple on the mat, Giselle maneuvers to get Elena into a headlock and goes after her legs, but Elena manages to get out of the hold and stands up. As teammates from both sides shout encouragement (“You got this!”), Giselle pins her down.
Banks calls time. Both girls return to the center of the mat and Banks lifts Giselle’s hand in the air. She shakes his hand, walks over to do the same to the Roger Williams coach and pats Elena on the back. Then Giselle turns around, pulls the ponytail holder out of her hair and heads back to her team.
Read the fully story at RIMonthly.