Bulldogs double up

Jeff Tully

For almost two decades, the Burbank High boys’ tennis program has

been one of the most successful teams in the region.

However, the 2005 campaign was a season the Bulldogs would like to

forget.

The team failed to make it to the CIF Southern Section playoffs

for the first time in nearly 20 years and Burbank (9-9) had to settle

for fourth place in the mediocre Foothill League.

Heading into the season, Burbank had won or shared the league

title 15 out of 17 years, after winning its 14th straight in 2001.

Despite their disappointing team effort, the Bulldogs did boast

their share of outstanding players.

That talent surfaced at the league finals where the team of

Jonathan Dong and Sarkis Khachatryan surprised many by capturing a

doubles championship and Garn Sangsuriyakul advanced to the singles

semifinal and finished third.

It is because of their efforts that the writers and editors of the

Glendale News-Press, Foothill Leader and Burbank Leader have selected

Dong and Khachatryan as the All-Area Doubles Team of the Year and

Sangsuriyakul is honored as the Singles Player of the Year.

“In the finals we had some players who seemed to play their best

and they stepped up and did well,” Burbank Coach Paul McNiff. “It was

the right time to play their best.”

Because Dong and Khachatryan didn’t comprise one of the top

doubles teams competing in the final, some in the league didn’t give

the duo much chance at winning a title. However, McNiff had

confidence in the pair.

“I’m not surprised that [the team] won it,” he said. “Our league

was really weak in doubles teams this year, and I knew that it was

possible for our guys to win if they played well.”

Dong and Khachatryan played only sparingly together as a team

throughout the season. However, McNiff thought their individual

talents would mesh well in the final competition.

“Jonathan is a left-hander, and that can pose some problems for

opponents,” McNiff said. “Sarkis has a good forehand and he can get

to a lot of balls.”

The Burbank senior duo defeated Kevin Cho and Otto Degieff of

Hart, 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, at the Paseo Club in Valencia to secure the

title.

In addition to Sangsuriyakul finishing third and earning

all-league honors, McNiff is happy about the fact his player was just

a sophomore this season, and he will have two more years to work with

him.

“I expect Garn to improve and get better the next two years,”

McNiff said. “And he has a brother, Pete, who should be coming in

next season and he should be good.”

Sangsuriyakul had a 22-8 record in league singles play.

DOUBLES TEAM OF THE YEAR

JONATHAN DONG, SARKIS KHACHATRYAN BURBANK

ALL-AREA FIRST TEAM

SINGLES

Hovik Mazmanyan * Glendale * Soph.

Nitros’ No. 1 took third in League

Arthur Kalayjian * St. Francis * Jr.

Could be area’s best on best day

Justin Kim * La Canada * Jr.

Played well in singles and doubles

DOUBLES

Eric Ueo (Sr.), Ryan Chang (Sr.) * Crescenta Valley

Singles standouts teamed up to take fourth in Pacific League

Michael Shin (Soph.), Steven Shin (Sr.) * St. Francis

Brothers helped team to 10 wins

Hovik Ovakimyan (Jr.), Aram Ambartsumyan (Soph.) * Glendale

Duo played No. 1 for most of season

COACH OF THE YEAR

Bob Davidson * Glendale

Guided Nitros to a share of second place in Pacific League