FLECKMAN THINKING NATIONALLY AS HE TAKES OVER THE REIGNS
Wrestling coach hopes to build on tradition of excellence at The Hive

July 2009

St. Benedict’s has built teams in both soccer and basketball that contend nearly every year for a national championship.

That’s the pinnacle Solomon Fleckman thinks the Gray Bees wrestling team can reach.

"Am I starting out the year looking to catch Blair? Not right now,” said Fleckman, of obtaining the same national prominence for the Gray Bees program that has been a hallmark of Blair.” But would it be in the back of my mind to one day create the opportunity for the kids to compete at that level? Absolutely.”

Fleckman, the Dean of Faculty at St. Benedict’s, who has spent the previous three years as an assistant coach to Mike DiPiano Jr., has taken over the head coaching responsibilities. He knows what it takes to reach the level of a team like Blair – he spent 10 years as an assistant coach at the school in Warren County, when it began its rise as a national power in the 90s.

“I come from a high-profile program and I think at that level,” said Fleckman. “That is my lens on the sport in terms of what’s possible.”

Fleckman knows he can’t turn the Gray Bees into a national contender overnight. But he does feel the ground work has been laid by the likes of Johnny Allen beginning in the 50s all the way up to the most recent predecessors, the DiPianos (Mike Sr. & Jr.) and Mark Gerbino. They have paved the way and given the wrestling program at The Hive a superb base.

“A lot of people have built this foundation, laid the ground work and given a lot of nurturing and care to this program,” Fleckman said. “It’s rare in this sport across the country to have this much tradition and I’m here to build upon it. It’s an exciting time for the program.”

Fleckman can’t do it alone. He will call upon assistant Dave Carlo and a number of outside individuals for help – from the administration and beyond while upholding and, hopefully, eclipsing the traditions as we head into the second decade of the millennium.

“I’m totally excited and supportive of Solomon,” said Mike Caruso ’63, the most decorated wrestler in Gray Bees history, who went 81-0 in his scholastic career before going on to become Lehigh’s only three-time NCAA champion.” He’s a person of high integrity, well respected in the wrestling community and someone who will continue a long and great tradition that we’ve built here at St. Benedict’s.”

“I want to do whatever I can to support Solomon in his vision for the team,” said Headmaster Fr. Edwin Leahy. “We’ve been blessed with people who can get kids to compete on the highest possible level. If we have kids who are capable of competing on the national level, then we better make sure we’re doing the kinds of things that allow that to happen.”

Fleckman may just have all the tools to help the Gray Bees establish a national reputation. He was a three-time Florida state high school champion and winner of four junior titles for USA Wrestling before the age of 20. He went on to become an NCAA All-American at Lehigh in 1992 before landing at Blair a year later.

“Our vision is to create opportunities for the kids to be on par with any wrestling program in the country,” said Fleckman. “I come from a background where you’re around opportunities. I want the kids to have the opportunities – that’s the first step.”

Fleckman is already making inroads. A steady, off-season workout regime saw eight St. Benedict’s wrestlers compete in the “Cadet” state championships – Blair didn’t have that many. Four of those wrestlers: Turtgotkh Luvsandorj (160 pounds), Isaiah Cromwell (171 or 189), Chris Dowdy (130 or 135) and Matt Aaron (125), qualified for the Nationals – the largest wrestling tournament in the world – July 20-25 in Fargo, N.D.

The real test, however, will come when the winter season gets underway and 2009 gives way to 2010. Fleckman feels he and, more importantly, his team will be ready.

“It’s an exciting time for the program. There’s a lot of interest from the student body,” said Fleckman.” We want to get the most out of the program and do what’s best for the kids. That’s my main objective.

“Everything we do from here on out is going to get scrutinized in comparison to the people who did an outstanding job before. If I don’t screw things up, I think we can fly even higher.”

— By Ron Jandoli