LYNN — Saturday’s 9th Annual Lynn Shore Showdown, a beach wrestling tournament between Lynn and Nahant Beach, reached new heights with 105 sign-ups across youth, high school, and open divisions. Hosted by Lynn Mayor Jared Nicholson and Beat the Streets New England, a regional non-profit that uses wrestling to engage inner-city students, the event’s turnout was its largest to date. “It was pretty awesome to have that number.
It’s definitely our biggest year,” said Beat the Streets Director of Operations Brett Poirier. “It’s running really well.” With money going back into local wrestling programs, Nicholson said his goals for the event are to highlight the sport, give an opportunity to young people, and spotlight the beach.
“We’ve been able to do that in a really exciting way for some time now,” he said. Nicholson, who wrestled at Princeton University, added the day is “a true collaboration.” “We rely heavily on Beat The Streets and their young people to run this tournament,” he said.
“And the Friends of Lynn and Nahant Beach and Save The Harbor/Save the Bay are great partners in helping us secure the location. And, of course, the DCR (Department of Conservation and Recreation) for hosting us and all the work they do.” Beat The Street’s CITs (Coaches in Training) from Boston and Providence “run the tournament,” according to Poirier.
“They’re being trained and mentored to be leaders,” he said. “They’re the brains of the operat.