In Lancaster, Pennsylvania—a city where nearly one-third of children live in poverty and youth homelessness is a growing crisis—Beat the Streets Lancaster (BTSL) is doing more than teaching takedowns and pins, it is transforming lives. Founded in 2016, BTSL is committed to empowering underserved youth through the sport of wrestling, mentorship, and real-world education. Offering free wrestling practices, gear, and life-skills workshops, BTSL ensures that every student—from first grade through senior year in high school—can participate, regardless of financial means.
“We’re not just a wrestling club,” says Executive Director Robert Rehm, who has led the organization for the past four years. “We are a youth development organization, using wrestling as the vehicle to open doors.”
Real Needs, Real Impact
Despite the outside perspective of lush green farms, unpaved roads with horse and buggies, farm stands and a slow pace of lifestyle, in the center of Lancaster County rests a city in need. In the 2021–2022 school year alone, over 2,200 students in Lancaster County were identified as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Act. “That number likely underrepresents the full scope of need,” explained Rehm, “Many families in Lancaster face economic insecurity, particularly in immigrant and Latino communities, which make up nearly half of the city’s population.”
BTSL currently serves over 300 young people—half of whom are teenagers—across four program sites, including elementary, middle, and high schools. The organization has established a strong presence in the community, with notable partnerships such as LAWW (Lancaster Alliance of Women Wrestlers) and leadership from dedicated coaches like John Mitchell, Kevin Franklin, Lex Ortiz, and Isaiah Rodriguez.
Looking Beyond the Mat
This year alone, 20 BTSL seniors will graduate, a majority, more than ever in the history of the program, will go on to college or trade school, including recent standout Jurleys Peguero del Rosario, who moved from St. Thomas three years ago and was recently accepted into Ursinus College. BTS Lancaster girls coach, Kevin Franklin shared, “Her mom and her sister have worked tremendously hard to improve their opportunities of getting an education. Jurelys showed up at one of our girls Try-It-Nights for Wrestling and never looked back. What she’s accomplished in three short seasons with all the other obstacles she’s had to overcome, is nothing short of amazing. Next year she will be wrestling for Ursinus College as she looks to become the first college graduate from her family. I could not be any more proud of this young lady.”
Jorleys is a perfect example of the impact BTS can have on an individual; Without any prior wrestling knowledge before participating in the local program, she was able to take full advantage of the opportunities it presented including building a small sisterhood and sense of community and learning important life-skills through mentoring and programming specifically offered through the Beat the Streets programs.
Twice a month, BTSL hosts life-skills workshops designed to equip students with essential knowledge rarely taught in school—budgeting, interest rates, resume building, and goal setting. These workshops came about from simple observations, like when a BTSL alum attended a practice and didn’t know how to cash the check he was handed at the end of practice. That one moment sparked a powerful realization for Rehm: “There is a need here beyond wrestling and what is learned in the classroom.”
In collaboration with local experts like Rich McKee, students now learn how to build financial goals, save for major purchases, and plan for their futures—skills that lay the foundation for independence and success beyond the mat. Rehm engages local leaders, mentors and specialists to teach courses and help expand the student-athletes knowledge in areas Rehm wished he would have learned during his youth.
Expanding Horizons—Literally
It isn’t just life skills that BTSL is providing, but life experiences. It is safe to say many of the youth served by BTSL have never left Lancaster county. Through the sport of wrestling, our student-athletes are able to travel to camps and competitions in cities like Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and beyond. These trips are more than just exciting events—they are life-changing experiences that challenge fear, build confidence, and broaden perspectives.
“The first year we offered our team to attend the trip to the National Camp and Duals in Chicago, only half the kids raised their hands to go—they were terrified,” Rehm recalls. “But after that first trip the student athletes who did attend, came back to practice excited and with a new confidence because they realized there’s more out there. This year, we’re taking a train to Philadelphia to attend the 2025 BTS National Camp and Duals. Many of our student-athletes have never ridden a train, they have yet to experience what that looks like. These experiences remove fear of the unknown. They empower our student-athletes.”
Doing More With Less
Despite its impact, BTSL operates with just two paid coaches and a small but passionate group of 10 core volunteers, including students from Franklin & Marshall and Millersville University. The organization’s lean structure and community-centered model make every dollar count—but also emphasize the need for sustainable funding.
Lancaster in particular is a saturated nonprofit market, and while BTSL is rooted in one of the state’s most wrestling-rich regions, Rehm is clear: “We do not want to become just a wrestling club. Our goal is to reach the right kids—those who need this opportunity the most—and change lives.” In a city with a graduation rate of 77%, BTS Lancaster will see
Looking Ahead
BTSL is actively working toward regional expansion, aiming to serve neighboring cities like Reading and Harrisburg—areas facing similar needs. Through support from Beat the Streets National, the organization recently donated 120 pairs of wrestling shoes to help launch an elementary program in Reading, eliminating a key financial barrier to entry.
As Rehm puts it, “Even though our town is small, our impact is not any less.” Lancaster, while small in size in comparison to other local accredited organizations such as Philadelphia, Chicago and New York, is in just as much need and can have just as large of an impact on the lives of those we aim to serve. There are a dozen more small cities across America in need of a Beat the Streets, youth in need of a consistent mentor, opportunities to view the world beyond city limits.
Join the Mission
Your support can empower the next generation of leaders, scholars, and community changemakers. Whether it’s helping a student attend their first wrestling tournament, teaching essential life skills, or simply making sure a child has a place to belong—your donation makes a difference.
To learn more about BTS Lancaster visit: https://www.btslancaster.org/
