History was made last week as the Armenia National Men’s Lacrosse Team competed in its inaugural tournament, finishing an impressive 2nd place among eight countries.
The 13-player roster featured two standout athletes from Glendale, CA: Jake Grigorian and Anthony Gharapetian, who share a unique bond that began a decade ago when they played basketball together at Ararat Homenetmen. Their paths crossed again through a mutual passion for lacrosse.
Grigorian, who attended Armenian schools for 13 years—starting at Tufenkian Pre School, then Chamlian Armenian School, and graduating St. Francis High School—now plays on the USC Lacrosse team as a faceoff specialist and offensive midfielder.
Gharapetian, a product of GUSD schools, continues his lacrosse journey at Concordia University in Irvine as a defensive midfielder and team manager.
The diverse roster of Team Armenia was drawn from across the United States and Canada, bringing together players from various backgrounds, with representation from several NCAA Division I programs. The team spanned a wide age range, from 17 to 30 years old, combining up and coming talent with seasoned experience.
Players came from prominent lacrosse schools like Cornell, McGill, UAlbany, and more, exemplifying the deep talent pool of Armenian athletes in North America and demonstrating their commitment to representing Armenia on the international stage.
Team Armenia was coached by Johnny Mouradian, a lacrosse legend with nine NLL championships, multiple GM of the Year awards, and inductions into several halls of fame, including the NLL Hall of Fame (2008) and the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame (2009). He also earned accolades like the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and led Canada’s national teams to both gold and bronze in world field championships.
In their historic debut, Team Armenia played with unmatched drive and determination, securing victories over strong teams like the Netherlands, ranked #12 in the world, and advancing to the championship game. This milestone not only showcases Armenia’s lacrosse potential but also sets a strong foundation for the sport’s future growth in the country.
With official membership in World Lacrosse on the horizon, Team Armenia is poised to compete on the international stage, with the ultimate goal of representing Armenia at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.
The momentum behind lacrosse in Armenia is real, and this team has made huge strides for putting Armenia on the map in the lacrosse world and Olympic stage.
https://asbarez.com/armenias-national-lacrosse-team-stuns-competitors-with-2nd-place-finish-in-greece/
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