There's a reason the Chenault brothers are identified with St. Vincent Pallotti's wrestling program. James, a 2007 graduate, won 95 matches. His younger brother, John, who graduated four years ago, won a school record 185.
It's a mark a third brother and current Pallotti senior, Justin, has been pursuing since his freshman year.
"That was his goal when he first came here," Pallotti wrestling coach Andrew Lacroix said. "He told me he wanted to break his brother's record."
Justin has a shot to do it with a career record of 177-40, though the Laurel resident says it will be difficult because of the competition in the final two tournaments.
Chenault, who is 45-1 at 132 and 138 pounds with 38 pins, will wrestle in the Schools State Tournament title at McDonogh School in Owings Mills Saturday and the National Prep Wrestling Championships at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania a week later.
"I am trying to beat everything he did," Chenault said of John. "It's been my challenge throughout my high school career. I am trying to beat his win record. If I won states then I would have to be an All-American (top eight finish at National Preps). It will be really hard to do, but I think I can do it because I am doing so good this year."
Achieving All-American status would make it even sweeter.
"Both of his brothers were super close to All-American and never got it," Lacroix said. "He wants to break through for that."
Chenault did do something John accomplished. He won a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association championship.
He posted a 4-1 decision over Archbishop Spalding's Mike Pearson at Mount St. Joseph in Baltimore last Saturday.
Chenault had to earn the title. He led 2-1 for part of the second period and for most of the third period. He scored his final points on a takedown right before the buzzer.
"He's had a couple close matches, but he has pretty much destroyed everyone," Lacroix said. "It's insane to have the number of pins he does. I think he has the capability to pin anyone. I've never worried about him in a match."
Chenault, who wrestled for two years in the Laurel Boys and Girls Club and the Howard County Vipers before joining the varsity, has had an outstanding senior season.
He has won four other tournaments, including the Ray Oliver Invitational, Mount Mat Madness, the Battle by the Bay and the Flo Excalibur.
"He is in every match," Lacroix said. "There was a match in the (Flo Excalibur) tournament. He was losing 11-0 after the first period and he pinned the kid. That's only the second time in a match he has been losing this year."
Chenault wasn't the only Pallotti wrestler to place high at the MIAAs.
Sophomore Masur Abdul-Malik finished third at heavyweight. He had a 2-1 lead on Christian Scott before getting pinned late in the third period.
"He's had a great season," Lacroix said of Abdul-Malik, who placed third in MIAAS and states last year at 220. "He's placed at every tournament that we have been too."
Jared Butler (5th, 113) also placed at MIAAs for Pallotti.