Day: February 28, 2024
When you’re in your 18th and final year in the AYF-YOARF, every event that you attend just feels a little different. You’ve been to them all at this point in your AYF career, but there is a moment at each event when you realize that this will be your last as an AYF member. Of course we will continue to attend events as alumni, but we all know that these events are more special and memorable when you’re part of the collective group of ungers throughout the Eastern Region.
Nareg Mkrtschjan (pictured second from the right) with his teammates on the Providence volleyball team
It is truly bittersweet, as my fellow aging out/graduating unger Aram Keshgegian from Philadelphia put it while we talked at the AYF-YOARF National Athletic Tournament (NAT) hosted by the Granite City “Antranig” chapter.
Although nobody asked for this, I thought it would be nice and sentimental to document my thoughts and experiences after each regional event in my last year in the AYF-YOARF. So, to start off, here are the observations I made at my last NAT in Granite City:
- Many people don’t get a chance to go to Granite City during their AYF career – every AYF member should take the opportunity to go at least once. I am lucky to have been able to go three times. They are small but mighty, with one of the strongest core groups of AYF, ARF and ARS ungers to support the community. Let’s not forget about their community center that we all saw on Saturday night – what an incredible venue!
- In men’s basketball, Detroit and Greater Boston will be the expected matchup for the next three to five years. It will be interesting to see if anyone can knock off one of these two. North Andover? Providence at home next year? A solid mixed team? Only time will tell.
- The New Jersey women are on the brink of building a dynasty. They did not disappoint their fans over the past two NATs with back-to-back championships, and their core group of young players is only going to get better. With recent alumna and NAT legend Theresa Jelalian at the coaching helm, they may have the upper hand. Let’s see if Detroit or the Philadelphia girls bring the competition in coming years.
- Don’t sleep on the Greater Boston women next year in Providence, as the duo of veteran Sena Changelian and up-and-coming star Alina Ouligian was a sight to see. Alina was making it rain from three-point land throughout all of her games.
- Seeing two sets of brothers battle it out in the men’s championship final was an incredible sight – yet another special experience you get in the AYF. The Tcholakian brothers (Mher and Sasoun) facing off against the Charchaflian brothers (Joey and Sam) is what NAT is all about. Everyone should watch out in 2027 when the youngest Charchaflian brother Jack joins the “Nejdehs.” Sources say he’s the best player of the three brothers.
- Winning a third consecutive volleyball championship for my hometown Providence chapter was a great way for me to close my NATs career. I have accomplished many things throughout my AYF years, whether it be serving on Central Councils, winning AYF Olympics or participating in our abroad programs. However, winning a NAT was one that eluded me. Maybe I’ll have to come back as a coach someday…
- One of my favorite moments of the weekend was watching the Detroit fans cheer on another fellow graduating ungerouhi, Knar Topouzian, with cheers of “We love Knar!” She’s been a dominant force at NATs throughout her whole career, with many championships under her belt – the event won’t be the same without her!
- We should all work on getting the AYF-WUS attendees back to NATs. It was always a blast competing against them and having ungers from outside our region at our events. Let’s start spreading the word when we see them at the 2024 AYF Olympics in Detroit.
Author information
Nareg Mkrtschjan
Nareg Mkrtschjan is the current president of the Providence “Varantian” Chapter. He has been very active throughout his AYF-YOARF career, participating as an AYF intern in 2017 and director in 2018.
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GRANITE CITY, IL – The Armenian Youth Federation – Youth Organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (AYF-YOARF) Eastern Region’s Granite City “Antranig” Chapter hosted the 2024 National Athletic Tournament (NAT) this past Presidents’ Day weekend. The event marked the first regional athletic event hosted by Granite City in the history of the organization.
The local Granite City Steering Committee worked tirelessly over the past year to plan an exciting and successful weekend. The committee was composed of AYF members, alumni and Granite City community members who helped organize the entirety of the event, from the hotel to the athletics, entertainment, venues and more.
The weekend came with a surprise – several inches of snow in the greater St. Louis area. However, not even snowfall could contain the AYF members’ excitement to get the weekend started. The weekend kicked off with a welcome social at Wasabi Sushi Bar. Basketball and volleyball games would start at 11 a.m. the next morning.
Over 100 AYF Seniors signed up to compete in the indoor basketball and co-ed volleyball tournaments held at the beautiful athletic complex at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School. In total there were six men’s basketball teams, three women’s basketball teams and eight co-ed volleyball teams.
Providence vs. Chicago
As the double-elimination basketball tournament got underway on Saturday, the Detroit men’s team and New Jersey women’s team received first-round byes as defending champions. The Greater Boston men’s team also received a first-round bye as a 2023 finalist.
On the men’s side, the first-round matchups proved to be extremely exciting, with Chicago narrowly beating Providence in overtime 52-49, securing their first NAT men’s basketball win in years, led by the Banklian brothers Alek and Aren. Philadelphia took care of a gritty mixed men’s team 56-49. On the women’s side, Detroit handily beat the mixed girls team by a score of 27-16.
In the second round games, attendees saw last year’s finalists take the court for the first time. As expected, the dominant Greater Boston and Detroit teams easily took care of Philadelphia and Chicago, respectively, setting up a semi-final rematch of last year’s championship matchup. The defending champions, the New Jersey women, took the floor against Detroit and asserted their dominance with a 31-22 victory, locking in their spot in the championship.
Moving on to the losers bracket portion of Saturday, five-man Philadelphia beat Providence 54-36, and the mixed team defeated the resilient Chicago team, who fought back after being down throughout most of the game. Philadelphia capped off Saturday’s slate of games with their fourth game of the day and a win over the mixed men’s team 60-44. In the women’s losers bracket, Detroit and the mixed team fought for a chance to reach the final. In a competitive game, the experienced Detroit team ultimately won 25-15, setting up a rematch with New Jersey in the championship on Sunday.
Mixed volleyball team (Granite City and New York)
The co-ed volleyball tournament also took place throughout the day Saturday, sprinkled in between the scheduled basketball games. Two-time defending champions Providence hoped to make it a three-peat in 2024. After the first-round games ended, the semi-finals on Sunday would consist of Providence versus Chicago A and Detroit versus Greater Boston.
As attendees returned to the hotel to get some well-deserved rest, Granite City community members worked hard to set up the dance at the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Apostolic Church community center. Members were excited to see a fan-favorite: The Yerakouyn Band. As the out-of-town AYF attendees arrived, they rushed to the dance floor alongside the Granite City community members to dance traditional Armenian dances, from the tamzara to the pampouri and more.
Sunday’s schedule of events began with the highly-anticipated men’s basketball winners bracket semi-finals matchup between Detroit and Greater Boston. Although a close contest throughout, crucial Detroit guard Mher Tcholakian fouled out with many minutes left to play, allowing the Greater Boston “Nejdehs” to pull away 58-49 with the victory and cement their spot in the finals. This led to a losers bracket semi-final matchup between Detroit and Philadelphia, who played their fifth game in just two days. Although short-staffed, the Philadelphia “Sebouhs” kept it a close game but eventually lost to Detroit by a score of 44-34. The basketball finals consisted of Detroit versus Greater Boston on the men’s side, and Detroit versus New Jersey on the women’s side.
In the volleyball tournament, Providence defeated Chicago (2-0) after a miraculous first set comeback. Chicago took a commanding 22-16 lead; however, Providence rallied back on Harry Kojoian’s service and stole the first set 28-26. Greater Boston defeated Detroit (2-0), leaving defending champions Providence and Greater Boston to meet in the finals, a matchup between traditional rivals.
Providence Volleyball Team
As the volleyball championship kicked off, Providence got off to an early lead in the first set and did not look back. The “Varantians” took care of business and defeated Greater Boston by a score of 2-0, earning their third consecutive NAT volleyball championship.
Returning to the basketball courts, the women’s championship tipped off between Detroit and New Jersey. The game was a significant one, with longtime Detroit star player and NAT veteran Knar Topouzian lacing up for her last game.
The women’s basketball championship was a tremendous display of athleticism, fine-tuned dribbling skills and lights-out shooting. The game was extremely tight from start to finish, with neither team able to build a safe lead to run away with the game. As the game approached its last few minutes, the New Jersey “Arsen” ladies were able to take the lead with a solid five-point cushion and did not let it slip. They dominated the boards and created many second-chance points. As the scoreboard showed 0:00, New Jersey was crowned the 2024 women’s NAT champion by a score of 31-26. Tournament MVP was awarded to Mia Setrakian, who scored 19 points in the championship to lead her chapter to a second consecutive victory.
“I had a great time playing basketball with New Jersey and the other teams we played against. Everyone was so supportive, and it was great to reunite with everyone for the weekend after being at college for so long. It was a truly memorable weekend!” said Setrakian.
Recent alumna and newly onboarded coach Theresa Jelalian stated, “Throughout my NATs playing career, the one thing I hoped to get out of the girls was that everyone was having fun.” She went on, “Being on the sideline this year, I hoped to bring that same energy, only in a different role. Getting to coach these girls was really awesome, and I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Although there are winners and losers at every NAT, the true purpose of the weekend is to bring together our organization’s members to enjoy each other’s presence in a competitive and respectful environment. Many remember the displays of sportsmanship and camaraderie throughout their AYF careers. As the buzzer sounded at the end of the women’s championship game, a thunderous round of applause was given for Knar Topouzian, while her teammates shouted chants of “We love Knar!” Moments like these continue to make AYF-YOARF events special and memorable for its membership and alumni for years to come.
When asked her thoughts on competing at her last NAT, Topouzian said, “Although I realized my body is physically ready to age out of the sport, I wish I could keep playing only to continue having great experiences on and off the court with my fellow DKT members and all my AYF peers.” She continued, “This was one of my favorite NATs I’ve ever attended. I feel so grateful to have such supportive friends and such a strong and loving chapter.”
A livestream of the women’s championship can be found on the AYF Eastern Region Facebook page.
The last event of the tournament was the men’s basketball championship between defending champions Detroit and Greater Boston, a rematch from the 2023 NAT final. The game was a physical one, with both teams reaching the foul bonus in the first half. The first half concluded with Detroit leading 29-26. Veteran player Daron Hamparian of Greater Boston had a scorching first half, scoring 15 of Greater Boston’s 26 team points.
Sasoun Tcholakian attempts a free throw
As the second half progressed, the game continued to stay too close for comfort for either team. Mher Tcholakian, who had fouled out in the earlier Greater Boston matchup, found himself in trouble once again with four fouls. However, he was able to adjust and play hard defense without registering a fifth foul.
The second half was dominated by two sets of brothers: the Tcholakians of Detroit and Charchaflians of Greater Boston. Twins Mher (13 second-half points) and Sasoun (11 second-half points) Tcholakian scored all but two of Detroit’s 26 second-half points. Joey (9 second-half points) and Sam (9 second-half points) Charchaflian scored all but four of Greater Boston’s 22 second-half points.
As the final whistle blew, Detroit ultimately avenged its semi-final loss and beat Greater Boston 55-48. Tournament MVP was awarded to Mher Tcholakian, who delivered a commanding performance of 21 points and nine rebounds.
A livestream of the men’s championship can be found on the AYF Eastern Region Facebook page.
When asked about his thoughts on the weekend, Tcholakian said, “First, I want to shout out the Granite City’s chapter for setting up an amazing NATs! They allowed us AYFers to come together and build memories that will last a lifetime.”
Tcholakian went on to share what it means to him to be a Detroit AYF member. “Being able to be part of the AYF and DKT gives me the privilege to be part of something bigger than myself! Accomplishing the tall task of winning couldn’t have been done without my teammates and our emphatic DKT chapter that shows nothing but support for each other.”
Following the loss, Greater Boston “Nejdeh” Joey Charchaflian stated, “It was a heartbreaking loss, but I’m proud of our boys for the fight we put up. No excuses – we’ve already started getting ready for next year, and the ‘Nejdehs’ will definitely produce results at the 2025 NAT in Providence.”
Following Sunday’s semi-final and championship games, members returned to the hotel to prepare for the final night’s dance and award ceremony. Entertainment was provided by DJ M-Kay of Detroit and Yerakouyn Band.
Victors and defeated alike gathered to dance and celebrate each other’s hard efforts and personal and team achievements. The Central Athletic Council took the opportunity to award the basketball and volleyball team trophies, as well as the individual MVP awards.
The AYF-YOARF Central Executive would like to extend its gratitude to the Granite City “Antranig” Chapter, its alumni and the greater Granite City community members for their support in organizing an extremely fruitful and historic event.
Giselle Krikorian, Granite City AYF and NAT Steering Committee member, reflected on the weekend. “Hosting NATs was a great way to connect our community to the greater AYF region, as our chapter has not hosted a major event like this for many decades.” She went on, “I am so happy that our members were able to see their fellow ungers in our hometown, since our chapter can feel isolated at times due to distance. I am proud of our community for planning and running such an amazing event, as it demonstrates that our chapter is alive and thriving!”
The AYF-YOARF is looking forward to the 2024 AYF Olympics in Detroit, Michigan and another weekend of camaraderie, competition and celebration.
On behalf of the Central Executive and the 2024 Granite City NAT Committee, we would like to thank all those who attended and extend our congratulations to all tournament champions and MVPs!
Author information
Founded in 1933, The Armenian Youth Federation is an international, non-profit, youth organization of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF). The AYF-YOARF Eastern United States stands on five pillars that guide its central activities and initiatives: Educational, Hai Tahd, Social, Athletic and Cultural. The AYF also promotes a fraternal attitude of respect for ideas and individuals amongst its membership. Unity and cooperation are essential traits that allow members of the organization to work together to realize the AYF’s objectives.
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WASHINGTON — Boeing must develop a comprehensive plan to address “systemic quality-control issues” within 90 days, the head of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday, after a mid-air emergency last month sparked renewed safety concerns.
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) demanded the plan in a statement critical of the plane maker following an all-day meeting with CEO Dave Calhoun on Tuesday.
“Boeing must commit to real and profound improvements,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in the statement. “Making foundational change will require a sustained effort from Boeing’s leadership, and we are going to hold them accountable every step of the way, with mutually understood milestones and expectations.”
Calhoun said in a statement the Boeing leadership team is “totally committed” to addressing FAA concerns.
“We have a clear picture of what needs to be done,” Calhoun said in a statement. “Boeing will develop the comprehensive action plan with measurable criteria that demonstrates the profound change that Administrator Whitaker and the FAA demand.”
Boeing has scrambled to explain and strengthen safety procedures after a door panel detached during a January 5 flight on a brand new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, forcing pilots to make an emergency landing while passengers were exposed to a gaping hole 16,000 feet above the ground.
Boeing’s production rate has been capped by regulators and closely scrutinized by lawmakers and customers following the January 5 incident and the new statement raises fresh questions about how long the production rate halt will last.
Whitaker said Boeing’s plan must incorporate forthcoming results of the FAA production-line audit and findings from an expert review panel report released earlier this week.
That report, which had been commissioned in early 2023, was highly critical of the company’s safety management processes, saying Boeing suffered from “inadequate and confusing implementation of the components of a positive safety culture.”
Boeing last week abruptly removed Ed Clark, the head of its troubled 737 Max program, as part of a management shakeup.
Shares were up 2.3% on Wednesday.
‘Systemic shift’
The FAA said Wednesday Boeing must take steps to improve its Safety Management System (SMS) program, which it committed to in 2019, and combine it with a Quality Management System to “create a measurable, systemic shift in manufacturing quality control.”
Whitaker visited Boeing’s Renton, Washington, factory, where the 737 Max line is produced, on February 12. Whitaker expressed concerns about some things he saw on the tour, two people briefed on the matter told Reuters.
The FAA meetings with Calhoun lasted more than seven hours, sources said, and much of it focused on a series of quality issues at the planemaker.
“Boeing must take a fresh look at every aspect of their quality-control process and ensure that safety is the company’s guiding principle,” Whitaker said.
The Alaska Airlines mishap is Boeing’s second major crisis in recent years, after crashes in 2018 and 2019 of Max planes killed 346 people. That prompted a grounding of the 737 Max for 20 months that damaged Boeing’s reputation.
The FAA panel report referenced the recent issues, saying it amplified concerns that “safety-related messages or behaviors are not being implemented across the entire Boeing population.”
Airline industry executives have expressed frustration with Boeing’s quality control. France’s Airbus, the only other major manufacturer of commercial jets, in January reported record annual jet orders and confirmed an 11% rise in 2023 deliveries, maintaining the top manufacturing spot against Boeing for a fifth year.
The FAA grounded the Max 9 for several weeks in January and has capped Boeing’s production of the Max while it audits the manufacturing process after a string of quality issues.
The door panel that flew off the Max 9 appeared to be missing four key bolts, according to a preliminary report this month from the U.S. National Safety Transportation Board. The panel is a plug in place on some 737 Max 9s instead of an additional emergency exit.
According to the report, the door plug in question was removed to repair rivet damage, but the NTSB has not found evidence the bolts were re-installed.
The disclosure angered Boeing’s airline customers. Some, including Alaska Airlines, announced they would conduct enhanced quality oversight of planes before they leave the Boeing factory.
WASHINGTON — Boeing must develop a comprehensive plan to address “systemic quality-control issues” within 90 days, the head of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday, after a mid-air emergency last month sparked renewed safety concerns.
The head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) demanded the plan in a statement critical of the plane maker following an all-day meeting with CEO Dave Calhoun on Tuesday.
“Boeing must commit to real and profound improvements,” FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said in the statement. “Making foundational change will require a sustained effort from Boeing’s leadership, and we are going to hold them accountable every step of the way, with mutually understood milestones and expectations.”
Calhoun said in a statement the Boeing leadership team is “totally committed” to addressing FAA concerns.
“We have a clear picture of what needs to be done,” Calhoun said in a statement. “Boeing will develop the comprehensive action plan with measurable criteria that demonstrates the profound change that Administrator Whitaker and the FAA demand.”
Boeing has scrambled to explain and strengthen safety procedures after a door panel detached during a January 5 flight on a brand new Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9, forcing pilots to make an emergency landing while passengers were exposed to a gaping hole 16,000 feet above the ground.
Boeing’s production rate has been capped by regulators and closely scrutinized by lawmakers and customers following the January 5 incident and the new statement raises fresh questions about how long the production rate halt will last.
Whitaker said Boeing’s plan must incorporate forthcoming results of the FAA production-line audit and findings from an expert review panel report released earlier this week.
That report, which had been commissioned in early 2023, was highly critical of the company’s safety management processes, saying Boeing suffered from “inadequate and confusing implementation of the components of a positive safety culture.”
Boeing last week abruptly removed Ed Clark, the head of its troubled 737 Max program, as part of a management shakeup.
Shares were up 2.3% on Wednesday.
‘Systemic shift’
The FAA said Wednesday Boeing must take steps to improve its Safety Management System (SMS) program, which it committed to in 2019, and combine it with a Quality Management System to “create a measurable, systemic shift in manufacturing quality control.”
Whitaker visited Boeing’s Renton, Washington, factory, where the 737 Max line is produced, on February 12. Whitaker expressed concerns about some things he saw on the tour, two people briefed on the matter told Reuters.
The FAA meetings with Calhoun lasted more than seven hours, sources said, and much of it focused on a series of quality issues at the planemaker.
“Boeing must take a fresh look at every aspect of their quality-control process and ensure that safety is the company’s guiding principle,” Whitaker said.
The Alaska Airlines mishap is Boeing’s second major crisis in recent years, after crashes in 2018 and 2019 of Max planes killed 346 people. That prompted a grounding of the 737 Max for 20 months that damaged Boeing’s reputation.
The FAA panel report referenced the recent issues, saying it amplified concerns that “safety-related messages or behaviors are not being implemented across the entire Boeing population.”
Airline industry executives have expressed frustration with Boeing’s quality control. France’s Airbus, the only other major manufacturer of commercial jets, in January reported record annual jet orders and confirmed an 11% rise in 2023 deliveries, maintaining the top manufacturing spot against Boeing for a fifth year.
The FAA grounded the Max 9 for several weeks in January and has capped Boeing’s production of the Max while it audits the manufacturing process after a string of quality issues.
The door panel that flew off the Max 9 appeared to be missing four key bolts, according to a preliminary report this month from the U.S. National Safety Transportation Board. The panel is a plug in place on some 737 Max 9s instead of an additional emergency exit.
According to the report, the door plug in question was removed to repair rivet damage, but the NTSB has not found evidence the bolts were re-installed.
The disclosure angered Boeing’s airline customers. Some, including Alaska Airlines, announced they would conduct enhanced quality oversight of planes before they leave the Boeing factory.