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California USA Wrestling stakes claim with signs on the site of their arena project

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by Matthew Blumberg

The city of Tulare and California USA Wrestling have taken their big first step in making a dream become a true reality.

On Thursday, October 8, the new site designated as the future home of California USA Wrestling now has a hard to miss landmark that was missing only days before.

Members of the organization and the local community came together to post a sign that reads, "Future Home of California USA Wrestling."

"It was a great day for wrestling," said Rob Valerio, the state's CFO and membership chairman. "This will be a wrestling venue done by wrestling people. It shows the strength of the wrestling community. We are united and we are strong working together."

The sign expresses the joy the organization and the California wrestling community feels after having their plans for a 100,000 square foot complex approved.

The sign-raising ceremony was initially going to be managed by Valerio, Greg Nunley of the Great Valley Land Company, local wrestling coach Dave Watts and a few other wrestling people. Nunley is the developer who has donated land to the project and will be involved in the arena construction.

"All of a sudden, the town turned out. The mayor and the vice-mayor attended, and there were people from the Chamber of Commerce. They were all there to lift the sign off of the Bobcat and put it into the ground. As we put it up, people were honking their horns from the road," said Valerio.

The first sign was a large 12 foot by 8 foot sign that could be seen from the major road running alongside the property. Two other 4 foot by 8 foot signs were also erected on other locations where the facility will be built.

The new complex is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the athletes, directors, and members of California USA Wrestling.

The complex will be built for wrestling events and activities, but will also host other community sporting events such as volleyball, boxing and other competitions.

The next step of the process are meetings with the architect and developer to finalize the building plan design. There will be additional financing efforts, from both private and public funding sources. The goal is to complete the project by 2012.

"The wrestling community and the city of Tulare are truly getting in this," said Valerio.

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