SLIPPERY ROCK — Yesteryear means a lot to Chuck Tursky.

The present isn’t too bad for him, either.

Tursky, 58, is the WPIAL’s all-time leader in dual match wrestling victories as a coach, compiling a record of 491-132-2 over a 35-year career. He is still the coach at Kiski Area and spent his first eight years at Burrell.

The 1980 Slippery Rock University graduate — and 2014 SRU Athletic Hall of Fame inductee — remembers his own time on the mat as well as his many years of coaching others on it.

He was a two-time PSAC runner-up as a heavyweight at SRU and placed in the Eastern Regional three years in a row.

“It was a Division I program and we packed the rafters for our home matches,” Tursky said. “People would line the upper balcony. The atmosphere was incredible.

“When we’d wrestle Clarion or Edinboro, home or away, there were long lines to get into the building. It’s hard to believe it’s all gone.”

SRU eliminated its wrestling program three years ago due to Title IX restraints and lack of funding.

“If I could wish for anything, it’d be for wrestling to make a comeback here,” Tursky admitted.

The Rock was 35-8 in dual matches during his four-year career here. SRU won two Eastern Regional titles and finished second in the PSAC twice while Tursky was with the team.

“I originally came here to play football and wrestle,” said Tursky, who was a defensive end and a 1975 Riverview High graduate. “A lot of schools recruited me, but Slippery Rock was the only one that would let me do both sports.

“After a year, it was too difficult academically for me to continue with both. Wrestling was Division I here, so I stayed with that.”

And while wrestling left The Rock, Tursky never left wrestling.

He has coached 80 high school wrestlers who wound up getting into coaching themselves. He’s won three WPIAL titles and had a 68-dual match winning streak at one point.

“Having 80 of my former wrestlers go on to coaching is what I’m most proud of in my career,” Tursky said. “That helps to sustain the sport.”

While at The Rock, Tursky was coached by Fred Powell, who went on to begin the mat program at Slippery Rock High School and has served as an assistant coach at Butler.

“I learned more things from Fred Powell on a wrestling mat than I did in a classroom anywhere,” Tursky said. “He’s an incredible teacher and has influenced so many people’s lives.

“I got into coaching because I wanted to do what he did.”

Tursky credits two longtime assistant coaches at Kiski — Chrtis Heater and Donnie Toy — for much of his success there.

“Chris has been on my staff for 25 years, Donnie for 23 ... It’s unheard of for assistants to stick around that long,” Tursky said. “I’ve been fortunate. We average 35 to 40 wrestlers every year there.

“I think wrestling is gaining in popularity in the high schools. The sport is all about great risk bringing great rewards. It’s a demonstration of life.”

Tursky isn’t certain how much longer he’ll stay in coaching. He does have one more goal to attain.

“Getting that 500th win would be nice,” he said.