Make room for coach: Sycamore Aviators name wrestling room for Listermann
CINCINNATI — Those who wrestled for Gary Listermann at Sycamore High School remember him as much more than a coach. He was a father figure and role model, who taught them lasting life lessons.
Dale Troutman recalls a bus trip in the fall of 1976. He was a member of Sycamore High School’s freshman football team, and the Aviators were returning from a victory at Eastern Hills League rival Milford.
“Cheerleaders were on the bus as well. Tony Traub came up with a song (that poked fun at the cheerleaders),” Troutman said. “Well when we got off the bus coach took us all out to the field to do 10 100-yard sprints for the disrespect we showed our cheerleaders. I learned to respect this man greatly!”
In January, the district officially dedicated the Gary Listermann Wrestling Room during the annual Sycamore Wrestling Invitational.鈥� Traub, a 1980 graduate who grew up in Blue Ash and now lives in Hamilton, was among those in attendance. He lost his father shortly before his freshman year. Listermann, Traub said, mentored him in wrestling as well as life.
“He served as a wonderful example of honesty, hard work and dedication and I looked up to him like I would have my father,” Traub said. “Our friendship has continued to this day. We used to love going out to his place in Indiana fishing and riding four-wheelers. His impact to the youth and wrestling at Sycamore is unparalleled and I am so proud to have been a part of his life.”
Troutman wrestled at Sycamore before continuing his mat career at Ohio State University. During his senior college season, Listermann attended a match between the Buckeyes and national power Iowa at St. John Arena in Columbus. Troutman lost to a nationally-ranked opponent, but to this day remembers Listermann’s support.
“I was bummed I could not put forth the win on the day he was there to watch. I knew he understood and probably suffered in the loss alongside me. He was always there for us,” Troutman said.
Listermann, who also coached football and track, said he “was actually kind of stunned” when he first learned of the honor. “It had never occurred to him,” his wife, Barb, said. The Mount Healthy High School graduate said he became a coach and teacher “because I had a love for sports.”
Athletic Director Andrew Ovington said the district’s board of education approved the naming in November. Ovington, along with alumnus Mark Ford, assistant athletic director Dan Buchanan, current wrestling head coach Jeremy Pletz and Sycamore alumnus and Hall of Famer Steve Imhoff led the planning of the ceremony, which took place before the finals of the Sycamore Invitational.
“He led by example and gave advice to us continually trying to make us better young men,” Troutman said, “He instilled a great work ethic, alongside discipline needed to be successful. He always had a speech at the end of practice and just talked to us to ensure we were doing the right things and representing our sport/school in a good light.”
Troutman grew up in Blue Ash and now lives in Ranger, Georgia. His story is similar to those shared by alumni who returned for the January ceremony.
“Based on the amount of alumni that were on hand for the dedication ceremony, it is clear what kind of impact coach Listermann left on the Sycamore community in his 30 years of coaching and education,” Ovington said. “It’s clear he not only coached the athlete, but coached the person and created lifelong relationships that still exist to this day.”
“Coach Listermann is a legendary coach in the city, not just Sycamore, Pletz said. “It’s always important to recognize and celebrate a program’s history.”
Listermann spoke to the crowd, which earlier had lined the hall at the school to applaud him and Barb as they entered. “it was a special day and as far as what the day it was like, it was just, you know, sort of unreal that it was all happening,” he said.
“So many friends, former wrestlers, former coaches, department chair people, and our social friends and so many people turned out. to see him receive this honor. He was overwhelmed,” Barb said.
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