Andrew Alirez vs. Jesse Mendez to headline 2024 Beat the Streets Annual Benefit

Alirez and Mendez have won the 141-pound NCAA championship the past two years, Alirez in 2023 and Mendez in 2024.

NCAA national champions Andrew Alirez and Jesse Mendez will compete in a freestyle match at 65 kilograms at the Beat the Streets Annual Benefit on Tuesday, June 4 at Ziegfeld Ballroom in Manhattan. 

Alirez of Northern Colorado and Mendez of Ohio State have won the 141-pound national title the past two years, Alirez in 2023 and Mendez in 2024.

Alirez (NCRTC/TMWC), who took an Olympic redshirt and did not compete during the 2023-24 NCAA wrestling season, won his second U.S. Senior Nationals title at 65kg last December. He also won a U.S. Senior Nationals title in 2020. Mendez (Ohio RTC/TMWC) won a silver medal at 65kg at the 2023 U23 World Championships.

Alirez and Mendez both reached the semifinals of the 65kg challenge tournament in men’s freestyle at the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials but did not meet in the consolation round. Mendez took fourth place in the tournament. 

Additional matches for the BTS Annual Benefit will be announced at a later date. 

The BTS Annual Benefit will also feature a panel discussion on the benefits of wrestling led by bestselling author and podcast host Tim Ferriss with Neil deGrasse Tyson and 2012 Olympic champion and six-time World champion Jordan Burroughs. 

There will be a cocktail hour, a seated dinner where Olympic and World medalist wrestlers will dine with VIP guests, an awards ceremony for BTS students and coaches, and an auction filled with great experiences. 

The BTS Annual Benefit helps the organization raise more than $1 million each year to support youth wrestling programs, which empower young people in New York City. This year’s event will be the 14th BTS Annual Benefit. 

The event will start at 6 p.m. Eastern time. A variety of ticket packages, which include an option to attend the VIP after-party, are available at btsny.org. For more information on sponsorship opportunities or to donate auction items, email BTS Executive Director Brendan Buckley at bbuckley@btsny.org.

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Since being founded in 2005, Beat the Streets has pioneered a movement that now includes 150 individual wrestling programs, a youth league and the first girls high school league. 

BTS works to develop the full human and athletic potential of New York City urban youth and strengthen the city's wrestling culture. We aim to make a lifelong impact on student-athletes through the lessons learned on the wrestling mat -- discipline, perseverance, self-reliance, humility and a strong work ethic. Discover how you can make a meaningful contribution to our work at btsny.org/donate.