OCTOBER 2006

More documents

Recommendations

Info

sports PHOTO BY DAVID REED net worth Marian tennis star eyes her third state championship BY STEVE STEIN Kassandra Piligian has a perfect record at the Division 2 state high school girls tennis tournament. She’s been there twice, and won two doubles championships. What will the 16-year-old Birmingham Marian star do for an encore this fall in her senior season? She’d love to win a third state title, of course, but it’s going to be difficult. Piligian is playing No. 1 singles for the state-ranked Mustangs after earning that spot through pre-season intrasquad challenge matches. Even though she lost nine of her first 12 matches after the season began, Piligian wasn’t discouraged. “I would have been a little bit disappointed if I was playing doubles again this year,” Piligian said. “My goal was to be our team’s No. 1 singles player. I love the position. It’s difficult and challenging, but fun. I’m doing my best, and trying to be a leader for my teammates.” Playing singles isn’t a new experience for Piligian. She’s a singles player in United States Tennis Association and country club tournaments. “I like playing singles more than doubles, but doubles was where my team needed me the last couple years,” Piligian said. “I prefer singles because you don’t have to depend on anyone. If there’s a mistake made during a match, it’s something I could have prevented.” Marian coach Dan Bittner has no misgivings about Piligian’s switch from doubles to singles in the Mustangs’ lineup. “I thought about playing Kassandra in doubles, but the bottom line is you always put the best player on your team at No. 1 singles, no matter what,” Bittner said. “Kassandra has proven she’s the best player on our team. She’s a very confident player and she keeps her emotions in check, especially in pressure situations.” After not making it to the state tournament as a freshman, Piligian teamed with Kiki Wilson to capture doubles state championships in 2004 and 2005. The duo won at No. 2 doubles in 2004 and No. 1 doubles in 2005. Wilson graduated last spring. “Doubles can be a lot of fun, especially if you have a great partner and friend like Kiki,” Piligian said. “And your partner can keep you focused during a match.” The daughter of Chris Piligian and Christine Jonna Piligian of Troy, Kassandra Piligian has two athletic siblings. Katrina, 20, is an ex-Marian tennis captain who is now a junior at the University of Notre Dame. She isn’t playing tennis there. Cary, 19, is a former University of Detroit Jesuit High School baseball star who is continuing his career at Georgetown University (see box). CARY ON After a remarkable high school baseball season last spring, Cary Piligian — brother of Kassandra — continued his winning ways in summer travel ball. The pitcher-outfielder helped the North Farmington-West Bloomfield Cobras win the under-age 18 division of the prestigious Mayor’s Invitational Tournament in July in Battle Creek. Piligian was a major reason why U-D Jesuit, which finished fourth in the Catholic League Central Division, came out of nowhere to make it to the championship game of the Division 1 state tournament in June. On the mound, the hard-throwing right-hander was the winning pitcher in the Cubs’ 5-4 victory over Birmingham Brother Rice in the regional semifinals and 6-2 triumph over Brighton in the state semifinals. At the plate, Piligian’s three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning beat Lake Orion 8-5 in the state quarterfinals and his grand slam homer was the big blow of U-D Jesuit’s win over Brighton. The Cubs’ Cinderella story ended sadly in the team’s first state championship game. Grosse Pointe North scored seven times in the first inning and went on to a 7-5 victory. GP North finished 38-1, while U-D Jesuit ended up 25-14. Piligian couldn’t pick a most memorable state tournament moment. “The walk-off homer against Lake Orion was pretty cool. The ball went over the scoreboard in left-centerfield at Bishop Foley,” the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder said. “Being the winning pitcher and hitting a grand slam in the state semifinal game was great, too.” Piligian’s season statistics for U-D Jesuit were impressive. As a pitcher, he was 8-3 with a 2.40 ERA, striking out 101 in 74 innings. He batted .426 with five homers and 35 RBI. Georgetown pitching coach Mark Van Ameyde was in contact with Piligian all summer, communicating at least once a week via a phone call or e- mail. “He usually wanted to know how I was doing and if I was staying healthy,” said Piligian, who headed to school in late August. Even though he’s a freshman, Piligian is expected to compete for a spot in Georgetown’s starting pitching rotation. The Hoyas finished 24-36 last spring, but their 10 victories in the Big East Conference was the most since 1986. – Steve Stein 40 CHALDEAN NEWS OCTOBER 2006
Estate, Antique, and Fine Jewelry 700 N. Old Woodward • Suite 200 • Birmingham MON-FRI: 10am-5:30pm SAT: 10am-5:00pm 248-723 -9975 www.legacyestatejewelry.com BEHZAD AMIN DDS MONA ASSAR DDS Husband and Wife team W N S COMMERCE ROAD E ❂ UNION LAKE ROAD 2900 UNION LAKE ROAD SUITE 120 COMMERCE, MI 48382 (ACROSS FROM K-MART) 248-363-8285 + NEW GENTLE SILENCE DRILL + ADVANCED COSMETIC DENTISTRY + DENTAL IMPLANTS + DIGITAL RADIOGRAPHY + EXTRACTIONS AND LIFELIKE DENTURES + COMPLIMENTARY RELAXING GAS (N2O) + ROOT CANAL THERAPY, PERIODONTAL TREATMENT + STATE-OF-THE-ART STERILIZATION TECHNIQUES + MOST INSURANCES ACCEPTED + HEATED MASSAGE CHAIR + COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION we welcome children FREE Whitening for Life! Limited time offer. Call for details. emergencies seen promptly 1006 OCTOBER 2006 CHALDEAN NEWS 41
Page 1: $2 WWW.CHALDEANNEWS.COM VOL. 3 ISSU
Page 5: Enjoy everything Shenandoah has to
Page 8 and 9: from the EDITOR • Breast Augmenta
Page 10 and 11: NOTEworthy KIDNAPPED PRIEST IS FREE
Page 12 and 13: CHAI time CHALDEANS CONNECTING COMM
Page 14: CALC corner PHOTOS BY DAVID REED NO
Page 17 and 18: NELSON HERSH, DDS, MS We aim to exc
Page 19 and 20: Subscribe! 248-932-3100 OCTOBER 200
Page 21 and 22: Voted the best lamb chops in town A
Page 23 and 24: OCTOBER 2006 CHALDEAN NEWS 23
Page 25 and 26: THE BEAUTIFUL LIFE! Belvedere Vodka
Page 27: Expert fitting for every look Banqu
Page 30: WHO WON THE CAR? One of the most hi
Page 33 and 34: JOIN THE ADVASURETM INSURANCE FRANC
Page 35 and 36: Peter Kassab looks over the neighbo
Page 37 and 38: Robert G. Nakisher, D.D.S. LAKEVIEW
Page 39: a different world Exchange student
Page 43 and 44: Kevin M. Nalu Specializing in comme
Page 45 and 46: KARAGOSIAN JEWELERS CELEBRATING 56
Page 47 and 48: chaldean news PROFESSIONALS PROFESS
Page 49 and 50: ESTATE REAL ESTATE REAL ESTATE REAL
Page 51: Finance Director Superior Pre-Owned

OCTOBER 2006

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?