WRESTLING TEAM STARTS NEW YEAR WITH SOLID EFFORT

January 3, 2009

The wrestling team kicked off the New Year by venturing out of state on Saturday when coach Solomon Fleckman’s team strolled to Staten Island to compete in the Dave Ironman Invitational at Msgr. Farrell.

The Gray Bees took home third place with 181 ½ points and finished behind champion Rocky Point (273 ½) and runner-up Msgr. Farrell (193).

Chris Dowdy and Bobby Bah led St. Benedict’s effort by picking up first place honors.

Dowdy captured the 135-pound crown by posting a 17-2 technical fall over Vin Loscalzo of Rocky Point in the final. Dowdy, who also won the title in last week’s Christmas City Classic in Pennsylvania, was dominant in all his bouts leading up to the final, scoring a pair of falls around a major decision.

Bah captured his first title of the season by winning the championships at 160 pounds. He edged James Holden of Curtis High, 5-4, in the final.

Coach Fleckman’s team also had runner-up performances from Rob Ranalli (130 pounds), Ochirbat Bayanjargal (145) and Isaiah Cromwell (189). Placing third were Terrell Forbes (152) and Riad Abu-Smail (215).

– By Ron Jandoli