Iowa wrestling legend Dan Gable (left) shows off a "Let's Keep Wrestling" t-shirt as he stands with Iowa associate wrestling coach Terry Brands (center) and Northern Iowa wrestling coach Doug Schwab before the class 3A semifinal matches at 2013 Iowa High School Athletic Association's state wrestling tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on Friday, Feb. 15, 2013, in Des Moines. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Gov. Terry Branstad says 9,000 people have signed an online petition aimed at keeping wrestling in the Olympics.

Branstad launched the petition drive last week at the state high school wrestling tournament after the International Olympic Committee decided to remove the sport from the Olympic Games in 2020.

The governor gave the newest count of online petitioners from the Let’s Keep Wrestling campaign website at a news conference Monday.

The move to end wrestling at the Olympics surprised many because the sport had been part of the Olympics for more than a century.