ACYOA Juniors from 13 Diocesan parishes enthusiastically gathered at St. James Church in Watertown, MA, over Memorial Day, for the 46th annual Hye M’rtsoom ACYOA Junior Sports Weekend. The St. James ACYOA Juniors chapter hosted 180 of their peers, together with adult chaperones.
On Friday evening, participants gathered with anticipation as buses began to arrive from out of town to kick-off the weekend, which had the theme Mishd Hye Mnank—“Let’s Stay Armenian”—selected by the ACYOA members.
Saturday’s events began with a morning service and welcome from parish pastor Fr. Arakel Aljalian, Youth Minister Maria Derderian, and Dn. Adam Bullock representing the Diocese, followed by a day of sports competitions, including basketball, volleyball, and individual sports. Opportunities for fellowship continued throughout the weekend, including an icebreaker before the games began, and a service project where participants prepared sandwiches for donation to a local shelter.
Evening events on Saturday and Sunday gave the participants opportunities to enjoy fellowship, dancing, and a trophy ceremony on Sunday to celebrate the tournament’s victors. Participants, host families, chaperones, and volunteers gathered for breakfast on Monday morning before returning home with new friends made and new memories formed. It was a memorable weekend for all in attendance.
Click here to view a gallery of more than 400 photos from the 2024 Hye M’rtsoom weekend.
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2024 ACYOA JUNIORS AWARDS
Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan Vision Award:
Karson Bilezerian—Holy Translators, Framingham, MA
Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan Leadership Award:
Maria Kesablyan—Sts. Vartanantz, Chelmsford, MA
Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan Service Award:
Aren Saraydarian—Holy Martyrs, Bayside, NY
ACYOA Junior Chapter “A” Award:
ACYOA Juniors of Holy Translators Church, Framingham, MA.
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SPORTS & COMPETITIONS (INDIVIDUAL CONTESTS)
Beginner Tavloo:
1st place: Sehbu Parsekian—St. James, Watertown, MA
2nd place: Ishkhan Ishkhanian—St. James, Watertown, MA
Beginner Chess:
1st place: Vanik Khachatryan, Holy Trinity, Cheltenham, PA
2nd place: Arden Ayazian, St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ
Advanced Tavloo:
1st place: Ara Speirs—Sts. Sahag & Mesrob, Wynnewood, PA
2nd place: Christina Hovnanian—Holy Trinity, Cambridge, MA
Advanced Chess:
1st place: Arek Gulbankian—Holy Trinity, Cambridge, MA
2nd place: Stephen Gregory—Holy Trinity, Cambridge, MA
Girls Ping-Pong:
1st place: Gabriella Lusk—Sts. Sahag & Mesrob, Wynnewood, PA
2nd place: Natalie Boghosian—Sts. Sahag & Mesrob, Wynnewood, PA
Boys Ping-Pong:
1st place: Karson Bilezerian—Holy Translators, Framingham, MA
2nd place: Alex Kurkjian—St. James, Watertown, MA
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SPORTS & COMPETITIONS (TEAM SPORTS)
Girls Basketball:
1st place: St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ
2nd place: Sts. Sahag & Mesrob, Wynnewood, PA
Boys Basketball:
1st place: Sts. Sahag & Mesrob, Wynnewood, PA
2nd place: St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ
Volleyball:
1st place: Sts. Sahag & Mesrob, Wynnewood, PA
2nd place: St. Leon, Fair Lawn, NJ
3-Point contest–Boys:
1st place: Zaven Sevag—Sts. Sahag & Mesrob, Wynnewood PA
2nd place: Ryan Moumdjian—St. Leon, Fair Lawn NJ
3-Point contest–Girls:
1st place: Christina Hovnanian—Holy Trinity, Cambridge, MA
2nd place: Lori Kouyoumjian—St. James, Watertown, MA
Overall Champion:
St. Sahag & St. Mesrob Church, Wynnewood, PA