Providence Rebounds to Win 76th AYF Olympics

PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Philly bubble burst.

It was punctured by a resurgent Providence team that refused to lose at home on this 76th AYF Olympics.

The “Varantians” put the pedal to the “mettle” and slipped past a Philadelphia team that had been dominant the past three years.

What a difference a year makes! Last Labor Day, the “Sebouhs” wrapped up their first Olympic Cup and, in the process, clobbered Providence, 262-79. Sandwiched in between was Detroit at 155—a far cry from the 43.5 points the K-T gang mustered this time around.

The Green Machine roared back with a vengeance, scoring 252.5 points—20 better than Philly—and secured its 38th championship overall. Detroit is next in the title parade with 13.

This one was textbook Providence, beefing its squad with 72 athletes and racking up a bevy of thirds and fourths. Had it not been for two dropped Philly batons in the relays, the outcome might have been different down the stretch.

The Sebouhs were looking good coming out of the pool Friday with a 30-point bulge, 75-45, but faltered in tennis and golf. Slowly, Providence kept chipping away leading into Sunday’s track and field.

Before the Opening Ceremonies started, a scoring update had Providence over Philly, 106-99.5, giving way to a predicted tussle between the two giants. Hours later, it was 169-162.5 Providence. And on it went to the waning moments and the relays.

By meet’s end, people left the field not knowing who had won. No final tabulation was announced and this outcome remained a mystery until the Olympic Ball on Sunday night.

Never in 76 years had two teams battled so relentlessly, each scoring over 230 points and giving the crowd an overdose of thrills. The stands were packed from beginning to end under ideal skies as top-flight athletes strutted their talents.

Five records were busted. An equal number of high scorers registered 15 points each. Providence earlier secured another softball title by trouncing Greater Boston in the championship game, 22-9, after eliminating a strong Montebello (Calif.) squad in the semis.

Much can also be said about Greater Boston. A year ago, the “Nejdehs” earned a Most Improved Chapter Award with a scant nine points. They added another trophy this year with 46.5 points, squeaking past Detroit by three points.

Fifth place went to New Jersey with 20 points, followed by the Hagopians and Granite City, 17.5, Chicago, 2, and both Racine and New York, 1 each. Also entered was North Andover.

High scorers follow: Michelle Hagopian (Granite City), golf baseball throw, discus; Lynne Tutunjian (Providence), 25-yard freestyle, 25-yard butterfly, 50-yard breast stroke; Michael Kaiserian (Philadelphia), 50-yard backstroke, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle; Paul Chobanian (Providence), discus, javelin, shotput; and Mark Williams (Philadelphia), 100 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters.

Philly swept the pentathlons behind Jessica Sarkisian and Emanuel Mkrtchian in what proved the closest margin of victories ever. Less than 25 points separated the top two finishers in each division.

Four of the five record-breakers hailed from Providence. They were siblings Stephen Tutunjian, triple jump (45’6″) and Lynne Tutunjian, 50-yard breast stroke (34.80); Mary Najarian, 1600 meters (5:24.2); and Andrea Tateosian, javelin (112’1.5″); along with Granite City’s Michelle Hagopian, discus (105’2″).

New York’s Justin Kaladjian was presented the Ernest Nahigian Sportsmanship Award. The Cory Tosoian Alumni Golf Award went to first-timer Armen Tenkarian of Providence who shot an 80.

The future bodes well for the AYF. Scores of youngsters showed up for the kiddies race which was run in age segments. It easily stole the show as cameras and cheers fired away. In comparison, the alumni mile drew four diehard runners, led by ageless veteran Barkev Kaligian. He was joined by three women: Ani (Almasian) Gigarjian, Carol (Boloian) Minasian, and Suzi (Asbedian) Ciaffi.

The social side was bustling with events at the Convention Center within proximity of the hotels. Friday night’s alumni gathering drew about 700, while Saturday’s and Sunday’s dances attracted an estimated 1,400 and 1,800, respectively.

Monday’s picnic took place on St. Vartanantz Church grounds with another decent turnout. All venues were complemented with music and dancing.

The games will be held in Philly next year, followed by Chicago the following year. Greater Boston is being eyed as host of the 2012 Olympics.

On with the results…

Women’s Division

Tiny Granite City got another colossal performance from Michelle Hagopian, who keeps racking up more gold than the Tower of London. Not only did she bust her own discus record set a year ago, but also missed the golf record by a single stroke (43) and easily won the baseball throw (163’2″).

The triple victory gives Hagopian 60 points in all, quickly moving her up the ladder among the best active scorers.

Providence’s Mary Najarian was in cruise control with her 5:24.2 mark in the 1600 meters. Varantian Carrie Demerjian held the previous mark at 5:30, set in 1997. Najarian was also golden in the 800 meters (2:32.5).

Andrea Tateosian, another Providence star, rewrote the javelin record with her toss, eclipsing a 30-year-old mark previously held by Providence’s Joyce Ajootian at 112’0″. Another second-place medal was secured in the baseball throw at 154’11″.

Emily Varadian represented the fourth generation of Varadians to shine at an Olympics when she cleared 4’4″ to take the high jump.

Another Varadian—this one Sonig—captured the triple jump in 29’3.25″ for Providence. Detroit answered with a victory in the shotput behind Maggie Ornazian in 28’10.5″. Philly’s Julie Miller was supreme in the long jump at 13’5.25″.

Sebouh Angela Soorikian swept the 50 and 100 meters, turning the tables on Greater Boston newcomer Araxi Krafian who vindicated herself with a victory in the 200 meters (28.9).

The 110-meter hurdles belonged to Philly’s Ana Blake, while teammate Sylvia Zohrabian secured victory in the 400 meters (1:05.2). No more than .5 seconds separated the top three finishers in what proved the best race of the afternoon.

Sarkisian battled tooth and nail with Providence’s elite Justine Douvajian for pentathlon laurels. After the dust cleared, the Philly gal prevailed, 2,378-2,367. Credit also goes to newlywed Karine (Birazian) Shnorhokian, a six-time champion from New Jersey who gutted out a third-place bronze despite nursing a quad injury. She still leads the active women’s scoring list with 116 career points and another year remaining.

Two of the three relays went to Providence in the 400 meters (55.2) and co-ed 400 meters (1:53.2), with Philly salvaging the 800 meters (1:59.3).

Krafian wound up with 11 points in her debut with silver medals in the 50 and 100 meters, both coming within an eyelash of victory. Look for her to lead a Nejdeh contingent in the coming years, along with her three sisters.

Other seconds went to Siran Krikorian (Providence), discus and shotput; Kristine Danielian (Providence), javelin; Kristen Santerian (Philly), high jump; Sarah Varadian (Providence), long jump; Sara Selverian (Philly), triple jump; Lia Arakelian (Philly), hurdles; Ariana Abbot (Providence), 200 and 400; Alexis Nedurian (Philly), 800; and Arev Dinkjian (New Jersey), 1600.

Men’s Division

Pressed for time, Stephen Tutunjian took care of business quickly before heading back to college after a double victory. He shattered the triple jump record, overtaking Serop Der Bogosian (Boston) whose 44’11.5″ mark has stood since 1971.

Tutunjian also came up golden in the long jump clearing 20’8″, nearly two feet better than his nearest challenger.

Two men each shared triple gold honors. Chobanian ruled the field events with firsts in the discus (130’0″), javelin (143’6″) and shotput (46’5″) while Williams took care of the dashes, 100 (11.4), 200 (23.3), and 400 (52.7), getting a stiff battle from Providence’s Dan Aharonian in each of those races.

Providence’s Jon Bogosian was a double winner in the high jump (6’4″) and 110-meter hurdles (16.6). Likewise for teammate Brandon Aylaian, who dominated the 1600 and 3200 with times of 4:52.7 and 10:16.2

In a showdown with teammate Andrew Hintlian in the 800, Aylaian was defeated by three seconds. The winning time was 2:08.3. Both are newcomers to the ranks and figure to be around like their Dads (Doug and Fred) before them.

The pent proved another tussle with Mkrtchian stemming the tide against Detroit’s Zack Bozigian, 2,692-2,668. This one was a dandy throughout the afternoon with Armenag Antranigian (Providence) also in the picture finishing with 1,951.

Providence took care of both relays in the 400 (45.8) and 1600 (3:41.1), ahead of Philly and a surprising Greater Boston quartet.

Dave Shahinian gave Philly seconds in the discus and shotput, while Tim Kazandjian did the same for Providence in the 1600 and 3200. So, too, with Providence’s Mike Beremian in the long jump and triple jump.

Other silver medals were bagged by James DerHagopian (Philly), javelin; Armen Tanzanian (Philly), high jump; and Chris Torcomian (Philly), hurdles.

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Tom Vartabedian

Tom Vartabedian is a retired journalist with the Haverhill Gazette, where he spent 40 years as an award-winning writer and photographer. He has volunteered his services for the past 46 years as a columnist and correspondent with the Armenian Weekly, where his pet project was the publication of a special issue of the AYF Olympics each September.