Beating the Streets and everything else
After Canoga Park senior Adrian Escobar won a majority decision on Saturday to finish off his school-record third straight Los Angeles City Section Championship at 113 pounds, he went looking for his sister, freshman Valeria Miranda, who was winning her first City title at 105 pounds.

The joy-filled embrace that followed carried more meaning than most who saw it knew.

Adrian and Valeria were raised in a single-mother household with three other siblings. They faced financial instability and domestic violence, prompting frequent moves.

When Adrian was eight years old, he joined the Topanga Police Athletic League/Beat The Streets LA Community program, seeking positive, accessible activities as a way to “beat the street.” Learning wrestling through the program, he received equipment, coaching, and clinics to help him grow in the sport. He also stayed out of the trouble that seemed to plague other youths facing similar challenges.

Valeria was a dancer, but when she noticed Adrian succeeding, she was moved to join him as a wrestler. Wrestling gave them both stability, a safe space, and a support system.

The two eldest, of five brothers and sisters, worked hard at their craft and excelled. In addition to Adrian’s historic threepeat, Valeria’s City title was the first for a girl at Canoga Park.

“Their journey showcases resilience and determination in the face of adversity,” said Office Juan Estrada, a wrestling coach with the LAPD Topanga Youth Programs. “Wrestling not only offered them opportunities for personal growth but also a sense of belonging and community.”

“Adrian and Valeria's story is a testament to the transformative power of sports, enabling them to rise above their circumstances and inspire their community. Despite the odds stacked against them, they continue to strive for excellence, determined to make their mark and bring pride to their community through their achievements in wrestling.”

Adrian, who has lost only one match to a City Section wrestler over his three-year career; advances to the state tournament with a 33-3 mark this season.

Adrian won Most Valuable Wrestler for the lower weight divisions at the Kris Camacho Memorial in mid-December and has been wrestling at the top of his game since.

“Adrian is ready to leave his mark at the state level and MAKE SOME NOISE,” exclaimed coach Robert Moose.

Valeria is 28-4 on the season.

At the Hueneme Tournament, she bumped up a weight division to 110 and faced the defending City champion at that weight. Valeria won by fall in the semifinals.

“This was the first time she started to believe that she was ready for the varsity level and would be dominant as a freshman,” Moose said. “This is her first state tournament, but she is excited for the opportunity and feels like she is ready to be competitive at the state level.”