Over Memorial Day Weekend, 130 ACYOA Juniors from 11 parishes throughout the northeast, together with their chaperones, enthusiastically gathered at St. James Church in Watertown, MA, for the 45th annual Hye M’rtsoom ACYOA Junior Sports Weekend.
This year’s gathering, hosted by the St. James ACYOA Juniors chapter and parish, was the first Hye M’rtsoom event since 2019.
On Friday evening, participants gathered with anticipation as buses began to arrive from out of town to kick-off the weekend. Its theme, ‘Aim Hye,’ was 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 participants opportunities to enjoy fellowship, dancing, and a trophy ceremony on Sunday to celebrate the tournament’s victors (see below for the roster of award-winners).
Participants, host families, chaperones, and volunteers gathered for breakfast on Monday morning before returning home with new friends made and new memories formed. The weekend was a welcome return to the beloved Hye M’rtsoom tradition.
2023 Hye M’rtsoom Awards
INDIVIDUAL SPORTS & GAMES
Beginner Tavloo
1st Place – Cameron Santerian (Holy Trinity, Cheltenham)
2nd Place – Christina Hovnanian (Holy Trinity, Cambridge)
Beginner Chess
1st Place – Arek Gulbankian (Holy Trinity, Cambridge)
2nd Place – Ishkhan Ishkhanian (St. James, Watertown)
Advanced Tavloo
1st Place –Andrew Gorgissian (Holy Martyrs, Bayside)
2nd Place – Mark Boyajian (Holy Translators, Framingham)
Advanced Chess
1st Place – Vardan Karapetyan (Holy Trinity, Cambridge)
2nd Place – Gary Nercessian (Holy Martyrs, Bayside)
Girls Ping-Pong
1st Place – Perri Simonian (St. Sahag & Șt. Mesrob, Wynnewood, PA)
2nd Place – Lucine Chagnon (St. James, Watertown)
Boys Ping-Pong
1st Place – Harry Chakmakian (St. James, Watertown)
2nd Place – Alex Kurkjian (St. James, Watertown)
* * *
TEAM SPORTS
Girls Basketball
1st Place – Holy Trinity Cambridge team, including players from Holy Martyrs, Holy Translators, and St. George
2nd Place – Sts. Vartanants/St. Leon Combined Team
Boys Basketball
1st Place –St. James A
2nd Place – Philly A
Volleyball
1st Place – St. James A
2nd Place – Holy Trinity, Cambridge A
3 Point contest
Boys, 1st Place – Christian Diaz (St. James)
Boys, 2nd Place – Paul Kasaryan (St. Leon)
Girls, 1st Place – Christina Hovnanian (Holy Trinity)
Girls, 2nd Place – Grace Yacobe (St. Sahag & St. Mesrob)
Sportsmanship Awards
Boys – John Kurkjian (St. James)
Girls – Jessica Ciaffi (Holy Translators)
Overall Champion
St James Watertown
* * *
CHRISTIAN SERVICE & CHARACTER
Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan Vision Award
Jacob Topakbashian (St. Sahag & St. Mesrob, Wynnewood, PA)
# # #