Eleven honored with All-CIF water polo awards
Whether competing in a regular-season or playoff match, 11 local boys’ water polo players served notice for their respective bodies of work.
Athletes from Glendale High, Flintridge Prep and Crescenta Valley took to the pool deck to participate in their share of matches against teams in the competitive CIF Southern Section Division V.
The 11 players were bestowed Monday with All-CIF honors after the CIF Southern Section office unveiled its teams.
Those named to the first team were Arman Momdzhyan and Manuk Piloyan of Glendale and Flintridge Prep’s Ethan Vandeventer.
Martin Chatalyan and Artak Arzumanyan of Glendale, Robert Menke of Crescenta Valley and Brian Khin of Flintridge Prep earned spots on the second team. David Papazian of Glendale, Crescenta valley’s Brian Dertli and Antonio Camarillo and Diego Delgado of Flintridge Prep were selected to the third team.
Momdzhyan, a junior driver, finished with 136 goals, 22 assists and 25 drawn ejections while helping lead the Nitros to the division championship match.
Momdzhyan said he was honored to find himself in elite company.
“It’s good knowing I’m part of a bunch of great players in the division,” said Momdzhyan, who led the Nitros to their second straight undefeated Pacific League crown. “I worked hard and so did the others to get All-CIF.
“It was a goal of mine before the season to try to get All-CIF. I tried to have more focus on our team, but it’s a nice way to end the season with a great award.”
Flintridge Prep often turned to Vandeventer and the junior utility player didn’t disappoint.
Vandeventer finished with 64 goals, 58 steals and 37 assists to lead the Rebels to a second-place finish in the Prep League. Flintridge prep advanced to the quarterfinals before falling to Riverside Poly.
“I just a great feel for the game, but I couldn’t have done it all by myself,” Vandeventer said. “It was a goal of mine before the season to possibly get All-CIF, but it wasn’t during the season.
“We accomplished a lot as a team. I didn’t expect to get All-CIF and I’m very humbled.”
Piloyan, a sophomore utility player, finished with 21 goals and provided a defensive spark for the Nitros during their historic season.
“For a sophomore to make first team is huge,” Glendale Coach Forest Holbrook said. “Throughout the playoffs, he was one of our best players.
“He could score and defend very well. We saw a little bit of what’s to come. Next year, he will have an enormous role offensively and defensively.”
Chatalyan, a senior driver, complimented Momdzhyan well. Chatalyan finished with 91 goals and 54 assists.
Arzumanyan, a sophomore utility player, collected 64 goals and 25 assists.
Goalkeepers Robert Menke of Crescenta Valley and Flintridge Prep’s Brian Khin backstopped their teams to postseason appearances. Menke, a senior, registered 296 saves and 22 stops for the Falcons, who took third in the Pacific League. Khin, a senior, had 151 saves, 11 assists and 35 steals.
Papazian, a senior utility player, recorded 58 goals. Dertli, a senior driver, finished with a team-best 66 goals.
Delgado, a sophomore utility player, had 54 goals, 30 assists and 47 steals. Camarillo, a senior hole/set, collected 34 goals and 19 steals.
Pasadena Poly’s Spencer Rogers was named the division’s player of the year after leading the Panthers to the division championship for the first time in the program’s history.
