From Growth to Results: Beat the Streets Student-Athletes Earn 7 All-American Placements at 2026 NHSCA High School Nationals

The nation’s top middle and high school wrestlers gathered in Virginia Beach from March 27 to March 29 to compete at the 37th Annual National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) High School Nationals, one of the premier postseason wrestling tournaments in the country. Student-athletes from across the United States took the mat with the goal of earning All-American status and competing for national titles, with NHSCA‘s continued partnership and support in helping make this opportunity possible for student-athletes each year.

This year, 62 Beat the Streets (BTS) student-athletes and their coaches represented chapters including BTS Baltimore, New York City, Cleveland, New England, and D.C. at the tournament. The group included both middle school and high school student-athletes, with 23 girls making up more than one-third of the total. Competing against some of the best wrestlers in the country, BTS student-athletes once again demonstrated growth and the ability to perform on a national stage.

A Mindset that Turned Into Results

For many student-athletes, the opportunity to compete at High School Nationals represents both a challenge and a benchmark for growth. Immediately following her All-American performance and 5th place finish at last year’s tournament, BTS NYC student-athlete Ana Carolina Mindlin Lockard reflected, “The minute the ref called the pin in my All-American match, I was flooded with a lot of emotion. It was the culmination of all the work I put in this past year. I’m excited to get back in the room and work even harder.”

And that she did.

Entering this year’s tournament unseeded, Ana Carolina Mindlin Lockard (BTS NYC, 145 lbs) delivered the highest placing performance among BTS student-athletes, going 7–1 overall to earn a 3rd place finish. After falling in the quarterfinals to the eventual bracket champion, she battled back through the consolation bracket with three consecutive pins before securing a decision victory in the placement match.

Ana was the only returning BTS All-American to earn All-American honors again this year, making her a two-time NHSCA All-American and leading the group with the top finish. Her performance reflected both growth and follow-through on the mindset she established a year ago.

As she shared after the tournament, “As of now this is the highest I’ve placed at a national tournament, and I couldn’t be happier. It was a bit heartbreaking dropping my quarterfinals match, and fighting back for third was a test of my determination and mental fortitude, but I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and for the people around me. I’m excited to get back to work.”

And that she will, as Lockard prepares to continue her academic and wrestling career at Lehigh University next year.

BTS NYC coach Mike Falcon also highlighted her performance, noting that Lockard showed remarkable resilience throughout the weekend. After her quarterfinals loss, she fired off three straight wins (all by fall) to reach the third place match, where she secured bronze with another dominant win. Falcon also pointed to the overall gritty performance of the BTS NYC team on the national stage, a sentiment echoed by coaches across the network, regardless of outcomes.

Across all chapters, the focus remains on long-term youth development. While national competition provides valuable exposure and high-level experience, the priority continues to be building confidence, discipline, and growth both on and off the mat.

All-American Performances 2026

Several other BTS student-athletes also earned All-American honors this weekend:

• Josiah Sims (BTS Cleveland, Sophomore, 132 lbs) — 4th Place
• Jayden Jackson (BTS Baltimore, Senior, 120 lbs) — 5th Place
• Derion Williams (BTS Cleveland, Junior, 120 lbs) — 6th Place
• Tristan Levin (BTS NYC, Senior, 120 lbs) — 7th Place
• Devion Coffin (BTS Cleveland, Senior, 132 lbs) — 8th Place
• James Moore (BTS Cleveland, Senior, 220 lbs) — 8th Place

All BTS student-athletes competed hard throughout the tournament, with some falling just short of All-American honors in the blood round.

Beyond the Results

Beyond the results, the experience allowed student-athletes to compete against top talent and represent their cities on a national stage. In the last four years, including this past weekend, BTS student-athletes have earned 26 All-American placements at High School Nationals.

Events like this continue to play an important role in supporting growth both on and off the mat.

While we celebrate the accomplishments of these student-athletes, Beat the Streets remains focused on something bigger than medals or placements. Our work is rooted in providing consistent, high-quality access to wrestling, mentorship, and enrichment opportunities for all youth, regardless of where they start or where they finish competitively. These experiences help build confidence, discipline, and a sense of belonging that extends far beyond the mat.

For full results from this past weekend, click here.

To learn more about BTS at High School Nationals last year, click here.

If you’re inspired by the journeys of these athletes and want to support opportunities like this for the next generation, we invite you to explore opportunities to get involved by visiting: Get Involved