Community - Armenian Reporter

B6 The Armenian Reporter | March 15, 2008CommunityArmenian schools across Los Angeles cometogether to play ball and make friendsm Story starts on page B1older boys’ division won the championships,the young students wereso excited for them.”In the United States, soccermoms have been branded as themiddle-aged, crazed, carpoolingmothers who exhibit overly aggressivebehavior at their children’ssoccer matches. At the KAHAMgames, it seems like the roles werereversed. Excited Armenian fathersthrew fists in the air whenthe referee made the “wrong” call,stomped their feet on the bleachersto encourage a free throw, andclapped vociferously when anotherpoint was scored for the team.Hagop Parseghian, a parentwho was seated among frenziedfathers, describes the heightenedemotion as an inherent nationaltrait. “Armenians are a passionatepeople, and that passion comes outin everything we do,” he notes. Theinvolved parent also says that beyondall the excitement, he appreciatesthe communal aspect most.“Just the mere fact that hundreds ofour teenagers are gathered togetheris a victory for the Diaspora andall Armenians living in SouthernCalifornia,” Parseghian says.The cacophony of emotion adsound was complemented by therhythmic percussion of dumbekand ululations – not to be mistakenfor a traditional Lebanese-Armenianwedding. Some sports fansat the KAHAM games were playingthe dumbek in the bleachers, rilingup the crowd with percussivebeats that blended flawlessly withthe bouncing, staccato beat of thebasketball.During the Upper Division Girls’Basketball Finals - Chamlian versusArmenian Sisters Academy -there was a dumbek player for eachschool, galvanizing the players andfans with the bang of the drum.As the crowd chanted “Let’s go,A.S.A., let’s go,” 17-year-old EricHairabedian was beating hisround drum, providing rhythm tothe chorus of the fans’ mantra. Theenthused teenager, a former studentof the Armenian Sisters Academy,decided to come out to theKAHAM games with his dumbek tosupport his alma mater. “I play thedumbek to keep the team going,”Hairabedian says. “It’s almost likesending good vibes to the playersso they will play well.”On the opposing side of thebleachers was proud parent SossyGuekguezian, who also broughtalong her dumbek to rally up theChamlian basketball team, inwhich her 14-year-old daughterplayed. “This is the loudest thingI could find in the house to makenoise,” Guekguezian says. “I wentto Party City to find noise makers,but nothing is louder than adumbek. The beat gives the girlssome sort of encouragement andthe people love it.”Of the colorful array of chips,pizza, donuts, and candy whichthe Homenetmen Massis Chapteroffers, it is their “famous” sujukhsandwich that the sport fans gravitatetowards. A long line formsaround the tent where the succulentand spicy sausage is sold. Thesweet, charred smell of grilled sujukhdrifts into the gym and outinto the football field. Beyond powerbars and drinks, this panini-stylesujukh sandwich is the super foodthat seems to fuel the performanceof the athletes.Jano Ayarian, 12, says hecomes to the KAHAM games primarilyfor the food. “I support theHovsepian student shows hisschool spirit as they walk in front ofspectators.Armenian Sisters Academy Students find time to play around while on the field during the closing ceremonies.Photos: Hilma Shahinian.Chamlian Students Vana Ebrahhimi #17, Alexa Mirzaian #3, and Massis Ohanesian #27 along withother students are excited about winning the 7th & 8th grade boys’ and girls’ championship.athletes by eating,” says the leanand thin middle-school student.With hubris and pomp, the youngfood critic reviews this year’s cuisineof sujukh and snacks. “I usuallylike the sujukh spicier, but itstill was really good to eat,” heconcludes.The closing ceremonies had asemblance to the Olympics. Whilethe Homenetmen Marching Bandplayed the national anthems ofthe United States and Armenia,each school paraded around thefootball field, holding a placardwith their school’s name printedon it.Cheering parents, armed withcameras and camcorders, applaudedtheir children with loudhoolers and whistles, as theirschools were awarded with gildedtrophies.“It’s just great to have all thestudents from different Armenianschools come and competeand make friends,” said JohnKahwajian, athletic director ofthe Homenetmen Western RegionalExecutive. “You see themcompete against each other andthen, after the game, they comeout and hug each other and formnew friendships. It’s just a greatfeeling.”fconnect:homenetmen.netMerdinian student anxiously await their turn to approach the podium for their trophies under the supervision of theirAthletic Director, Mike TilkianFerrahian Armens G Girls Basketball are proud of theirtrophy.Chamlian soccer team shows off their first place trophy.TCA Arshag Dickranian take theopportunity to hang out on the polevault mat at Glendale CommunityCollege.