JEFFERSON TWP- - A wrestling association in the South Butler School District is hoping school administrators will help it expand.

During its meeting Wednesday night, the school board received a request from wrestling group founder Mark McLaughlin to allow the organization to be set up as an interscholastic program.

Currently, the program operates as the Knoch Area Wrestling Association and the Youth Wrestling program.

KAWA, as it is called, is the booster organization, and the youth program caters to kindergarten through sixth-grade wrestlers.

The association has supported the team financially since its inception in 2001, when it had only 20 members. Now, the team has 47 wrestlers and continues to grow.

"What we'd like it to be is an expansion into another program in the future," McLaughlin said, asking that the team eventually be expanded to a varsity level.

In the last three years, the boosters have paid more than $15,000 for equipment to operate the team, McLaughlin said, adding it is prepared to continue to support itself financially should the district approve its expansion request.

"To date, we've been completely financially independent," McLaughlin said. "We're committed and we will continue to be committed."

As part of the expansion, the association would need gym time at the middle school for both practices and matches, McLaughlin said.

To bolster his request, McLaughlin brought with him Rande Stottlemyer, the head wrestling coach at the University of Pittsburgh.

Stottlemyer, who has been the wrestling coach at Pitt for 25 years, told board members about the benefits of having a wrestling team for both the school and the students.

"Your most successful students are in some sort of extracurricular activity," he said, adding that the structure of the sport allows students to work on interpersonal skills, such as teamwork and discipline.

Knoch eighth grader John Zellhart also spoke about the benefits of having an expanded program. Zellhart, who recently moved to Knoch, had previously attended a school with a full wrestling program.

Zellhart said he'd like to have the same opportunity at Knoch.

"Before I became a wrestler, I tended to be lazy and undisciplined," he said. "Being in sports has helped me keep my nose clean."

Several school board members asked if there was space for the team to expand.

District athletic director Josh Shoop said the schedule for the middle school gym could be reworked to provide time for the middle school team and any future varsity team, but the high school gym won't be available.

Board president Jim Jones said the board would discuss the issue with Shoop and seek advice on what to do.

"The administration and the athletic director clearly need to spend some time talking about this," Jones said. "We will base our decision on a recommendation from the athletic director."