SLIPPERY ROCK — A movement is under way to return the sport of wrestling to Slippery Rock University.

A Rock wrestling alumni committee, headed by John Butch, has been negotiating with the university to reinstate the sport. SRU dropped its wrestling program in 2006.

Should it return, a women's wrestling team would be formed as well.

“We would need to have a women's team to satisfy Title IX requirements,” SRU athletic director Paul Lueken said.

Lueken added that the university has agreed to reinstate the wrestling program if its wrestling alumni can raise $5 million by June of 2021.

“That's what it will take for a men's and women's wrestling program to be fully endowed here,” Lueken said.

“They've got all the numbers of what it would take ... It seems like a lot,” said Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner, who wrestled at The Rock from 1986-91 and was a graduate assistant coach there.

John Butch, a Rock wrestler from 1966-69 and a 1972 SRU graduate, is head of the alumni's negotiating committee that includes Stoner. He said there are approximately 400 active SRU wrestling alumni.

“We're still negotiating that (dollar) figure and the deadline date,” Butch said. “It is a lot of money in a short period of time, but I believe we can at least approach that.

“We're never going to know if we don't try.”

Stoner emphasized the $5 million “isn't etched in stone. We have a committee meeting Thursday and we'll learn a lot more.

“Regardless, we have a monumental task in front of us. But we have a lot of people who care a lot about getting this done.”

Butch added that his committee was guaranteed that any money it raised through donations would be refunded to those people if a wrestling program isn't started.

“That's big because most of the wrestling alumni won't donate if they think the money would be put to some other use,” he said.

“If the program does come back, I think a lot of them would willingly contribute to the university again.”

Stoner said that “anybody who's pulled up those green straps has a lot of pride in that program. I know the university's mascot is called Pride.

“We had that in the wrestling program a long time ago.”

If the necessary funding is in place by June of 2021, Lueken said the university would likely be able to field a men's and women's wrestling team for the 2022-23 season.

He pointed out that there have been only two alumni to contribute as much as $1 million in a donation. Jack Critchfield donated $500,000 toward the construction of Critchfield Pak, the university's baseball complex.

“I just think it's unlikely they can raise that kind of money,” Lueken said of the $5 million amount.

Butch is hoping they don't have to hit that exact figure.

“I believe we can get the program started with a $500,000 endowment, then $60,000 each year,” he said. “For four full scholarships (each) for men and women, the salary for a coach, travel and expenses, it will take approximately $200,000 a year to run the program.

“Our committee still has to get together and finalize details. Negotiations are still going on. But at least we have a start.”

Former SRU wrestler Rick Thompson and the unbeaten 1969-70 Rock wrestling team will be honored during the university's Hall of Fame weekend in September.