Local wrestling coach asks PRAC to back Measure P investment for youth programming
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Summary
Melissa Padilla asked PRAC to consider backing an $800,000, four‑year Measure P investment to expand youth wrestling opportunities in District 4 and downtown tournament hosting; staff and commissioners discussed possible partnerships and next steps.
Melissa Padilla, a district 4 resident, wrestling coach at Edison High School and founder of the nonprofit Consortium By, used public comment time to press the commission for support for wrestling access and facilities.
Padilla said Fresno lags nearby Clovis in high-school wrestling results because local athletes lack access to facilities and ongoing development opportunities. She asked PRAC to consider partnering with Measure P to close that gap and said she has discussed potential locations with city staff and Councilmember Maxwell; she described a proposed budget of about $800,000 over four years to build programming and partnerships. Padilla invited commissioners to observe the Central Valley tournament downtown in March and said such events bring families and economic activity to the Saland Arena and downtown Fresno.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about dates, qualification and club pathways; Padilla described the Judy Ryder free kids card and local clubs and noted that Cal USA Wrestling’s tournaments draw about 2,000 youth and families to Fresno multiple times a year.