GRAY BEES LIMP INTO SEASON-OPENING CARUSO INVITATIONAL
Forbes & Jones Take Home Titles, Gray Bees Finish 6th in Team Race

December 3, 2011

Injuries are part of sports. But what has happened to St. Benedict’s seems downright sinister.

The Gray Bees opened the season in Saturday’s Caruso Invitational with a depleted lineup that looks more like a MASH unit than a wrestling team.

Coach Solomon Fleckman’s club has four starters sidelined with injuries; three of those are coming off surgeries, including two mainstays – Don Tai Garner and Whitney Forte, who are shelved for the season.

“All the planning that you put into the season goes right out the window,” said Fleckman. “What makes it even tougher is that the guys that are hurt are the ones with all the experience. We were counting on them give us a solid team throughout the lineup.”

With four regulars out with injury, and another who is rounding into shape, the Gray Bees had little chance to successfully defend their team title in the Caruso Invitational, which was staged for the 22nd successive year at St. Benedict’s. Fleckman’s team finished sixth.

Two of St. Benedict’s more talented wrestlers who have avoided the injury bug and are expected to have monstrous years – Terrell Forbes and Jawan Jones – got their season off on the right foot.

Forbes, a junior, won his first Caruso title, while Jones, a sophomore, captured his second straight Invitational crown. Both are expected to carry the team banner while the rest of the veteran leadership is on the mend.

Forbes, who placed eighth in last year’s National Prep Championships, won the 160-pound title by dominating Zack Rego of Haverford (Pa.), 10-2 in the final. He used a first period tilt to build a 5-0 lead before extended it to eight points after two periods to all but lock up the title.

“This feels good,” said Forbes. “I know it’s my job to be an example for my teammates and go out there and work hard every time out. With so many guys hurt, it’s up to me to help push the other guys.”

Jones, a seventh-place finisher in the National Prep tournament last winter, began his sophomore year just like his freshman campaign. He pinned his way to the final before posting a 7-3 decision over Malik Woody of Mouth St. Joseph (Md.) at 113 pounds.

Jones also feels the weight of team on his shoulders, but welcome the challenge.

“We will build it back up and the guys who fill in will have to do the job,” said Jones, who expects to drop to 106 pounds for the prestigious Beast of the East tournament in two weeks. “I know I won’t be able to surprise anyone this year. But I have to stay humble and keep working hard to improve more and stay ahead of everyone else.”

Notes: Forbes and Jones will both be competing by themselves over the next two weekends, while the rest of their team takes part in the Loomis Duals and the Kearny Invitational, respectively. The two champions from Caruso will head to Ohio to take part in the Walsh Ironman Tournament next weekend before heading to Delaware for the Beast of the East to following week.

The Gray Bees only other placewinner at the Caruso was Darian Toms, who placed third at 145 pounds.