NEWS
Coach Spotlight: Transforming Youth with Mentorship and Community with Coach Marcus Leon and Freddie Lee Hurt Jr.
Coach Marcus on the left, Coach Freddie on the right
To celebrate reaching the end of our Spring season in Oakland, BTSBA wants to show appreciation to two coaches who will always have the Oakland community in their hearts and life- Coach Marcus Leon and Coach Freddie Lee Hurt Jr. They have shown dedication and continue to serve Elmhurst Middle School with the BTSBA Oakland Middle School Spring League. They are two amazing individuals that provide a place of mentorship and drive for the wrestling community in the Bay.
Getting to Know the Duo
Marcus Leon, with over 25 years of coaching experience, has dedicated himself to serving his community in Oakland. Despite only wrestling for a year during his high school days, Marcus found himself immersed in the sport when his son developed an interest in wrestling at the age of ten. This led Marcus to become head coach at Castlemont High School, vice president of the Wan Tu Wazuri wrestling club with Ashlee Sherman, and sitting on two CIF advisory boards. His coaching not only provides athletic skills to the youth, but also life lessons and values that extend far beyond the wrestling mat.
Freddie Lee Hurt Jr., who began coaching in1982, has been an amazing coach in the Oakland community. Freddie began his first ever wrestling practice after seeing the half-nelson fore the first time in his high school gym at McClymonds High in Oakland. Since he graduated high school and continued wrestling at Chabot College. Freddie had years of experience, leading winning teams from year to year within the 90s, ending up at Fremont High School- not shy with coaching at other schools within OUSD. When Marcus reached out to Freddie in the 2000s, they began coaching together at Elmhurst Middle School for the next 8 years, creating relationships and guiding youth through life’s important moments.
Coaching the New Generation of Coaches
Marcus and Freddie's dedication to serving youth and Elmhurst Middle School is evident through Joanna Mack. Joanna now joins BTSBA as one of our newest coaches at Bret Harte Middle School. Her journey in wrestling began under the mentorship of Marcus and Freddie at Elmhurst Middle School. Their guidance propelled Joanna to pursue wrestling at Castlemont High School, where she excelled and even competed at the national level.
Thanks to the influence and support of Marcus and Freddie, Joanna has chosen to give back by coaching at Bret Harte Middle School during the BTSBA Oakland Spring League season. This cycle of mentorship underscores the real impact coaches can have on shaping young athletes' lives.
What Coaching Truly Means for Them
With Coach Marcus and Coach Freddie’s 30 years of coaching experience, these two have shown the Oakland community and youth that wrestling is more than just a sport, but a pillar of support. Let’s hear their thoughts on wrestling and coaching and what it means to them:
Question: What motivates you to keep coaching the most?
Marcus: I just wish I had someone to show me that it was available at my age. The way the kids responded to me, they put their belief and faith into what I was teaching them. Being from Oakland, it’s hard to find somebody like that. They can relate to that. I think they felt that because we were from Oakland. There’s kids here that need structure and if I’m able to help a kid out by giving them wrestling lessons and talking to them about life, that’s my goal. If I could help out one kid a year, that’s my goal. They come out better people, they’re looking at themselves in a better light. That’s what keeps making me come back.
Freddie: Wrestling is about life- the decisions we make in here are decisions we make outside. It’s a lot of learning and teaching life lessons. For me, wrestling is not more of a lifestyle but a second nature. Some of my kids have graduated college, started their lives, and also are giving back. I tell them it’s fun. It’s been fun to teach them, it’s fun to watch the kids react to what I teach them.
Coach Marcus and Freddie with their Elmhurst team in 2022
As BTSBA continues to work within the Oakland community, coaches such as Freddie and Marcus have helped built a community that has each others backs and pushes youth to grow with confidence and strength as they grow into adults. As we get close to our Oakland Spring League Final Tournament, we remember what it means to pay it forward- here’s to many more seasons in the Oakland community!
“The heart of Oakland beats with the rhythm of diversity. Our community is a mosaic of cultures, voices, and experiences, each contributing to the vibrant tapestry of our city." - Rebecca Kaplan
From the Desk of Our Executive Director
Dear Beat The Streets Bay Area Supporters,
As we progress through the spring season, I wanted to share some exciting updates from Beat The Streets Bay Area. Our middle school wrestling program in Oakland is in full swing, with five weeks of intense practice and three thrilling competition nights behind us. It's truly inspiring to see the energy and dedication our young wrestlers bring to the mat, and the infectious enthusiasm that fills the gym during competition nights. This is what drives us to do what we do.
A huge thank you to our incredible coaches, whose guidance and support have been key to the program's success. As we continue this journey, we have two more competition dates coming up. We would love to see you there to support our athletes! Mark your calendars for Friday, May 10th, at 5 p.m. at Edna Brewer Middle School, and Saturday, May 18th, at 12 p.m. at Oakland Tech for the OAL Championships. Your presence and encouragement mean a lot to our wrestlers.
As the spring program winds down, we're turning our attention to two exciting events. First, our Annual Celebration—Comedy for a Cause—will be held on June 7th at the Swedish American Hall in San Francisco. This evening of laughter and fellowship is all for the benefit of our kids, and we hope you'll join us. For more information, visit our website or check out Comedy for a Cause.
Second, we're partnering with Aim High to offer summer wrestling programs in Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco. This collaboration will allow students in these areas to experience wrestling and the valuable life skills it teaches. We're thrilled to expand into San Jose and San Francisco, and can't wait to see what the summer holds. To learn more about these opportunities, visit our website or check out BTSBA/Aim High.
We're always looking for ways to improve our programming, so be sure to stay connected with us through our website and social media for the latest news and updates. If you have any questions or would like to get involved, don't hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your continued support. Together, we're making a difference in the lives of these young athletes.
Warm regards,
John Lange
Executive Director
Beat The Streets Bay Area