Three Generations of AYF Tennis Medals

By Harry Derderian

It is not unusual to see children follow their parents into AYF Olympic competition. There are many such stories, and the pride of family that goes with that is genuine and memorable.

Where it gets really great is when we see three generations participating and each generation winning points and medals for their chapter.

When this occurs in the same event, it gets even more attention.

(L-R) Nikki, mom Armine, and Alyssa Kanis

The Harry and Claire Kushigian clan of the Green Machine in Providence comes front and center! This year, we saw such an achievement when Alyssa Kanis of Providence won a 3^rd-place medal in tennis, her very first Olympics. In prior years, her mom Armine Kushigian had won in tennis, as well as her aunt Nairi Kushigian and grandmother Claire Tevekelian Kushigian.

As for patriarch Harry Kushigian, he won medals in Olympic shot put and discus, but was noted as an outstanding lineman for Boston College (BC) football powerhouses. Harry was not just an “AYF athlete.”

Claire Tevekelian won gold for Boston in the 60’s. Daughter Nairi was dominant in the 80’s and 90’s, winning gold twice and beating sister Armine one of those times. Nairi also won three silvers.

Armine (like dad, a BC graduate) was solid and consistent, winning gold twice and a silver in just a few years in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Alyssa’s 3^rd-place win this year completes the three-generation cycle, and there is more to come.

Alyssa, 16, plays junior varsity tennis at East Greenwich High School and has played since the age of 9. Younger sister, Nikki, 13, is in the 8^th grade at Cole Middle School and plays tennis there. She has played since age of seven. Like mom Armine and aunt Nairi, these two could be playing each other for the gold some year.

Harry and Claire felt pride in their daughters, and now a great deal of pride in their tennis-playing granddaughters.

With Alyssa, followed by younger Nikki, there are more AYF gold tennis medals coming to the Kushigian clan. You go girls!