Talk of wresting never ends in the Listorti family. Junior Victor and sophomore Chase are both highly accomplished wrestlers at Chesapeake High. And they are not the first pair of Listorti brothers to wrestle for the Cougars.
Their dad, Tony, serves as assistant coach at Chesapeake and graduated in 1982, the year he won a county championship and finished fourth in the state. Tony’s brother, Mike, graduated in 1981 and won a junior varsity county championship.
“We always hear my dad say, ‘The Listorti brothers were pretty good back then,’” Victor explains. “I always say, ‘My brother and I are the better of the two.’”
The two brothers go back and forth on what generation is best. “It’s bragging rights in the family,” Tony says.
More and more, it’s looking like that distinction belongs to the younger Listortis because of the success they’re having early in their careers.
Chase went 39-7 as a freshman at 113 pounds, while Victor posted a 41-11 mark as a sophomore at 145 after going 24-14 as a freshman at 132.
“They are becoming more and more known across the county and state,” Chesapeake Wrestling Coach Randy Curtin says. “I think the sky is the limit as far as championships, and the number of wins and pins. They might set a bunch of school records.”
Victor has lofty goals when it comes to career numbers. He understands he could surpass the 100-win mark as a junior and be in the running for the school record of 132 victories in 2021.
Victor won a county championship, placed third in the region, and won two matches in his first appearance at the state tournament in College Park last season.
“It’s very difficult in wrestling to break the 100-win mark,” Victor says. “And I would like to get the school record, too. It would be so cool to get those marks.”
The 5-foot-10-inch tall Victor might be able to argue that he’s the better athlete since he shines in three sports for the Cougars.
The older brother excelled as a faceoff specialist for the varsity lacrosse team last spring, winning 115 possessions, and totaling 15 points (5 goals, 10 assists). Victor’s varsity football career started with a bang in a 41-14 thumping of Largo. He returned two interceptions for touchdowns and rushed for a third. Victor starts at strong safety and is part of Chesapeake’s running back rotation.
“It’s rare to have two scores off of interceptions in the same game, or even in a season,” Chesapeake Football Coach Rob Elliott says. “Any player who can contribute on both sides of the ball is a huge asset for a program.”
Chase’s best sport is wrestling, but he’s also been a member of the JV golf team for two seasons. On the mat, he placed second in the county and fourth in the region, and also won two matches at the state tournament.
The 5-foot-8-inch tall Chase does a lot of off-season wrestling, and he won three matches at Super 32 Challenge in Alexandria, Virginia, this past summer.
Both brothers wanted to improve their wrestling skills, so they joined Blue Claw Wresting Club, which attracts some of the best public and private grapplers in the state, at Archbishop Spalding in Severn in March.
Chase says the training he receives is invaluable. “Before Blue Claw, I didn’t know a bunch of moves,” he recalls. “I had two or three moves, and they got me by. They didn’t work that well at regionals and states. With Blue Claw, so many aspects of my wrestling have improved. It’s crazy.”
Curtin says the Listorti brothers are different types of wresters. “Victor is more athletic and relies on strength and speed; Chase is more of a technical wrestler.”
As the high school years go by for the Listorti brothers, their reputations regarding sports will continue to grow.
“As a coach, I see what my boys have,” Tony says. “I see their hard work, athletic ability, and the heart they put into all of [their] sports.”
