Lemoore's Police Activities League shows off brand new wrestling mat

A pair of PAL participants roll up their new mat.

The new mat was on full display Wednesday afternoon where local boys and girls, participants in the PAL program, joined with members of the Lemoore Lions Club and Lemoore Police Department to show off their new addition.

According to Lemoore Lion and Lemoore Police Commander Steve Rossi, it was a special grant that paid for the new mat. “The origin was a “Community Recidivism and Crime Control” grant that we applied for on behalf of the Lemoore Lions through Kings County,” he said. “It’s for programs aimed at reducing crime and recidivism.”

The program was awarded a $10,000 grant, which it used to pay for the mat, custom designed by Sgt. Mathew Gonzalves, who also serves as the PAL wrestling coach, along with Lemoore High School Coach Marcio Botelho.

Rossi said they also applied for a $5,000 grant and was recently notified that it will get that as well. The money from the second grant will be used to purchase uniforms (singlets) and duffel bags.

Recently, the golf tournament brought in approximately $18,000 for the program. Currently there are about 54 kids, both girls and boys, involved with the PAL program.