Hoover High boys’ water polo’s Ashkharian selected Pacific League POY

If there was one thing Harout Ashkharian wanted to check off on his list, it was helping the Hoover High boys’ water polo team win a Pacific League crown.

With Ashkharian leading the attack, it proved to be a banner season for the Tornadoes. Hoover finally captured the league title, its first since 1989, and Ashkharian was voted the Pacific League Player of the Year.

“It’s a huge honor and it’s something I had set out to strive for before the season began,” said Ashkharian, a senior attacker who finished with 74 goals, 58 assists and 53 steals. “I tried to get it last year and I came up a little short, so that motivated me even more.

“It took a lot of dedication and hard work to earn it. My teammates pushed me and I pushed them to get better.

“To win league was amazing and it’s great to be on a team that had such an historic season.”

In addition to Ashkharian, 17 area players were bestowed with all-league accolades. Hoover’s Kein Witt was named the league’s coach of the year after the Tornadoes finished 22-6, 8-0 in league.

“[Ashkarian] gave our team leadership,” said Witt, whose team advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section Division II playoffs. “He operated the way a quarterback would in leading an offense.

“He’s such a great passer and an excellent shooter. I liked the job he did running our offense. It’s a great team accomplishment to see Harout get that honor.”

Six area players picked up all-league first-team honors: Jonathan Salandi, Aren Sukiasyan and Levon Haik Gukasyan of Hoover, Burroughs’ Marko Vucetic and JJ Ambartsumyan and Crescenta Valley’s Reagan Hesse.

Salandi, a senior goalkeeper, finished with 312 saves, 45 assists and 26 steals.

“Jonathan played with a lot of confidence and he’s just a natural athlete,” Witt said.

Sukiasyan, a senior attacker, had 76 goals, 54 assists and 58 steals.

“Aren brought a great left-hand shot and he proved difficult to defend,” Witt said.

Gukasyan, a senior utility, registered 56 goals, 43 assists and 97 steals.

“Levon brought speed since he could go from two-meter defense and then attack on offense,” Witt said.

Burroughs went 25-6, 6-2 in league for second place before going on to win the Division V championship for the first time in team history.

Vucetic, a junior utility, finished with 94 goals and 31 steals.

Marko scored a lot of big goals at the right time and showed he could play any position when we needed him to,” Burroughs Coach Jacob Cook said.

Ambartsumyan notched 50 goals as a junior utility.

“JJ showed a lot of improvement throughout the season and he came up big in certain situations,” Cook said.

Hesse, a senior driver, paced the Falcons with 108 goals and 80 steals. Crescenta Valley finished 14-13, 5-3 in league and lost in the first round of the Division II playoffs after marching to the Division IV championship match in 2015.

“He’s a confident and intelligent player,” Falcons Coach Jan Sakonju said. “He’s a very good player from a physical standpoint and he’s got such quick movement, so he can put himself in great position to do some damage.”

David Ashkharian of Hoover, Burroughs’ David Arakelyan and Aram Nordanyan, David Komjathy of Crescenta Valley, Burbank’s Brandon Wilson and Glendale’s Vachik Gharibyan earned all-league second-team honors.

Ashkharian, a sophomore attacker, had 85 goals, 43 steals and 24 assists.

Arakelyan, a junior attacker, finished with 80 goals and 37 steals. Nordanyan, a senior utility, recorded a team-high 95 goals.

Komjathy, a junior driver, registered 53 goals and 84 assists.

Wilson notched 82 goals, 37 steals and 34 assists as a junior driver for Burbank (10-13, 2-6 in league).

Gharibyan, a junior utility, had 44 goals and 33 steals for Glendale (8-9, 2-6).

Burbank’s Artush Gasparyan, Jerry Solano of Burroughs, Crescenta Valley’s Hakop Artsvelian, Glendale’s Nicholas Schmitt and Levon Gukasyan of Hoover received honorable mention.

Gasparyan, a sophomore utility, recorded 28 goals, 66 steals and 36 assists. Solano, a senior hole/guard, had 15 goals. Artsvelian, a junior goalkeeper, had 258 saves. Schmitt recorded 44 goals as a junior hole/set. Gukasyan, a senior utility, finished with 49 goals, 38 assists and 56 steals.