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Tag: Ronel Hakoupian

  • Burbank Wrestling Captures Second Consecutive Rio Hondo League Championship

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    Burbank’s wrestling team honored several members on Senior Night and later the team won the Rio Hondo League title for the second time. (Photo by Rick Assad)

    By Rick Assad

    For the second straight season and in spectacular fashion, the Burbank High wrestling team captured the Rio Hondo League championship on Wednesday night.

    For the record and on Senior Night, the host Bulldogs zipped past the Wildcats 77-4 in the boys division while the girls lost 40-20.

    Some of the seniors included Tyler Huo, who wrestles at 132 pounds, Ronel Hakoupian, who weighs 165 pounds and Thomas Adzhemyan, who hits the mat at 175 pounds. 

    Jonathon O’Brien is Burbank’s first and only head coach and was ecstatic in the victory.

    “The league title belongs to the whole program, not just the boys (technically just the boys but the girls earned it too),” he said. “By winning it means we’re getting ready for the CIF Southern Section dual companionship on Saturday [January 31] at Simi Valley High School. We’ll be ready.”

    Romney De La Rosa is Burbank’s assistant coach and was also pleased with the outcome.

    “Burbank High School’s wrestling program made a statement last night, in just its fourth year. The program has captured the Ro Hondo League championship for the second consecutive season,” he said. “The night was made even more special as the seniors competed in their final home dual in front of friends and family. It’s a fitting send-off for the group that helped build the program from the ground up.”

    Leading the parade for Bulldogs was senior Jayden De La Rosa, who won at 157 pounds after a second period technical fall with forty-one second left. De La Rosa dominated the action first period.

    Before the season began, De La Rosa was ranked 13th in the state at 150 pounds and is now ranked ninth at that weight.

    De La Rosa, who has been on the team for four years, was also hoping to become the school’s state qualifier.

    “It was a more emotional night than usual, as it marked the final home dual match that I was able to coach my son, Jayden De La Rosa. He is preparing to make his run to the state tournament even more meaningful,” the elder De La Rosa explained. “Now, the Bulldogs prepare to compete next week at the individual Rio Hondo League Championship in Monrovia.”

    At 113 pounds, sophomore Kaiden Takeuthi won on a pin with 1:38 left in the third period.

    Senior Tyler Huo (left) and senior Jayden De La Rosa were given keepsakes for their time on the wrestling team. (Photo by Rick Assad)

    Meanwhile, at 120 pounds, sophomore Erwin Bedrcian pulled off a pin with 1:46 remaining in the first period.

    Sophomore Alex Pereira fell at 126 pounds over three periods. Pereira was the aggressor in the first period but tailed off a little bit in the second period and the third period.

    At 132 pounds, sophomore Arayik Vardanyan proved too good as he grabbed an opening period stoppage via a pin with three seconds left.

    Sophomore Gevork Kabalchuzyan won via forfeit at 144 pounds.

    Junior Sevak Arakelyan was a winner at 150 pounds via first-period pin with forty-seven seconds left in the frame.

    At 175 pounds, junior David Antanseyan won by forfeit while junior Andre Takhmasian emerged victorious via forfeit at 190 pounds.

    Senior Albert Airapetian, at 215 pounds, claimed an opening-period stoppage via a pin with 1:22 remaining.

    At 285 pounds, sophomore Evan Der Galstanian won via first-period pin and 1:10 left on the clock.

    At 106 pounds, freshman Nicholas Rostomyan grabbed a win on a forfeit. 

    The girls were paced by junior Austin Desai, who won at 115 pounds via third-period technical fall.

    Sophomore Erika Sarkisian won by decision at 105 pounds and sophomore Bettina Shamiryan claimed a victory via forfeit at 120 pounds.

    At 145 pounds, freshman Natalie Avadian lost by a first-period pin at 1:22.

    Freshman Zoe Gomez won by forfeit at 110 pounds and freshman Katerina Onofriichuk, at 100 pounds, lost after an opening-period pin and forty-three seconds remaining.

    At 125 pounds, freshman Sinned Arguelles lost via decision after three periods.

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    Rick Assad

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  • Burbank Wrestlers Defeat Host Hoover 69-9

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    Burbank defeated Hoover 69-9 in a Rio Hondo League match. (Photo by Xavier Dubon)

    By Rick Assad

    It was super quick as the Rio Hondo League match took an hour for the Burbank High wrestling team to defeat host Hoover 69-9 on Wednesday night and raise its record to a stellar 3-0.

    Of the eight contested matches the Bulldogs captured six and also picked up six forfeited matches.

    Burbank head coach Jonathon O’Brien liked what he saw from the entire team.

    “I was really proud of our entire lineup, including our girls, who made the commitment to make their weight class even though they knew the possibility of wrestling was slim,” he said of the dozen ladies on the squad.

    O’Brien, who has been the coach for four years, was impressed by what he saw from a couple on the team.

    “Roni Manas [at 106 pounds] and Artem Akimov [150 pounds] both earned their first varsity wins of their careers tonight,” he said. “They’ve been working hard for months so it was rewarding to see them get their victory.”

    O’Brien added: “We also were pleased with the [exhibition] performance of [sophomore] Logan Rodriguez [215 pounds], who wrestled at an urgent tempo we felt matched the energy we try to bring to every match,” he said.

    The Bulldogs claimed six of the eight matches versus the Tornadoes and also gained six victories by forfeit. (Photo by Xavier Dubon)

    Freshman Manas won via a pin late in the first period and at 120 pounds, junior Kevin Krikor was also victorious by a pin in the opening period.

    Junior Akimov won after three tough periods and sowed his grit and toughness.

    At 165, senior Ronel Hakoupian emerged with a triumph via a pin and 1:37 left in the first period.

    At 190 pounds, junior Andre Takhmasian won via pin with just twenty-seven seconds left in the first period.

    At 285 pounds, sophomore Evan Der Galestanian prevailed with a victory by way of a pin as fifty seconds remained in the first period.

    At 113 pounds, sophomore Kaiden Takeuthi won by forfeit, as did sophomore Alex Periera at 126 pounds. At 138 pounds, sophomore Arayik Vardnayan also claimed a win by forfeit.

    At 157 pounds, sophomore Hovhannes Mkoyan won by forfeit and at 215 pounds, senior Albert Airapetian also won by way forfeit. Freshman Martin Aghabaday was a winner by forfeit.

    At 132 pounds, senior Tyler Huo lost across three rugged periods while at 144 pounds, senior Narek Danielian lost via a three-period decision.

    Assistant coach Romney De La Rosa is in agreement with O’Brien.

    “Our entire team performed great tonight. I’m excited to have such a strong group of freshmen who are enthusiastic about wrestling for Burbank,” he said. “What we’re seeing is consistency across the lineup, which is exactly what our coaching staff expects.”

    De La Rosa also shined a light on a couple of wrestlers.

    “Two standout performers came from Artem, who earned his first win in his first varsity start, and Andre, who secured a pin. Andre continues to improve each week,” he said. “We’re very pleased with the progress he’s making, highlighted by his third-place finish at the Newbury Park Invitational last weekend.”

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    Rick Assad

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  • Wrestling Preview: Burbank Ready For Another Big Season

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    Burbank High’s boys’ and girls’ wrestling team are decorated. (Photo courtesy Jonathon O’Brien)

    By Rick Assad

    It’s the fourth season of Burbank High wrestling and during the first three seasons the program has accumulated a considerable amount of hardware and recognition.

    Senior Jayden De La Rosa is currently ranked 13th in the state at 150 pounds and is hoping to be the program’s first-ever state qualifier.

    Junior Sevak Arakeleyan is another Masters/state hopeful at 157 pounds and senior Albert Airapetian is likewise gunning for those accolades at 215 pounds.

    Arakeleyan and Airapetian had several wins and they numbered 28 for Arakeleyan and 26 for Airepetian.

    Jonathon O’Brien is the Burbank head coach and is ably assisted by Romney De La Rosa and Josue Aguilar.

    O’Brien talked about what the goals are this season.

    “The team goal is to repeat as Rio Hondo League champion and CIF Southern Section Division V dual team champs,” he said. “Last season we lost to Pacifica in the quarterfinals by two matches out of 14 and they went on to win the whole thing. Of the 14 wrestlers we had in that lineup last year, 12 have returned.”

    Senior Jayden De La Rosa is ranked 13th in the state at 150 pounds and looks to be the program’s first-ever state qualifier. (Photo courtesy Jonathon O’Brien)

    O’Brien is also pleased that the number of girls in the program have more than doubled since 2024.

    “The most exciting development is that the girls’ team has exploded in size, jumping from five to 12,” he said. “Their fearless leader will be junior Austin Desai, a captain who lost in the blood round of the CIF Southern Section [round that determines if you go to Masters] last year but is poised for a triumphant return this year at the 110-pound weight class.”

    O’Brien then added: “The other returners hoping for Masters glory are sophomore Erika Sarkisian [110 pounds] and sophomore Natali Sarkuhanyan [155 pounds],” he said.

    The rest of the boys’ squad includes freshman Nicholas Rostomyan at 106 pounds and freshman Roni Manas at 106 pounds.

    At 113 pounds, there are sophomore Kaiden Takeuthi and freshman Artur Babayan.

    Junior Kevin Krikor will compete at 120 pounds as will sophomore Erwin Bedrcian and freshman Simon Kirakosian.

    Sophomore Alex Pereira and freshman Christiano Zambrano will wrestle at 126 pounds.

    At 132 pounds, senior Tyler Huo and sophomore Emmanuel Yegaran will see action.

    Sophomore Arayik Vardanyan and sophomore David Ayvazyan will wrestle at 138 pounds while freshmen Daniel Vartanian and freshman Martin Zakianyan will likewise tangle at 138 pounds.

    Junior Arman Martisoyan and sophomore Gevork Kabakchuzyan will wrestle at 144 pounds.

    Junior Artem Akimov, sophomore David Terjnanian and freshman Matthew Chirinian will wrestle at 150 pounds.

    At 157 pounds, sophomore Hovhannes Mkoyan, freshman Enrique Shajanian and freshman Michael Hayrapetyan will compete.

    Junior Austin Desai wrestles at 110 pounds and is the girls’ captain. (Photo courtesy Jonathon O’Brien)

    Senior Ronel Hakoupian and freshman Davit Sargsyan and freshman Armen Simonian will wrestle at 165 pounds.

    At 175 pounds, senior Thomas Adzhemyan, junior David Antanseyan and freshman Martin Aghabadyan will tussle.

    Junior Andre Takhmasian and freshman Calvin Aghanian will wrestle at 190 pounds and at 215 pounds sophomore Logan Rodriguez will be on the front line.

    Sophomore Evan Der Galstanian will see action at 285 pounds.

    These are the girls on the team and include freshman Katerina Onofriichuk at 100 pounds and freshman Nikki Trujillo at 100 pounds.

    Freshman Zoe Gomez will compete at 110 pounds, sophomore Bettina Shamiryan at 115 pounds, freshman Madison Ries at 115 pounds and freshman Sophia Sirakanian at 115 pounds.

    Freshman Sinned Arguelles will wrestle at 125 pounds and sophomore Lili Movesyan will compete at 130 pounds. Freshman Natalie Avadian will wrestle at 145 pounds.

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    Rick Assad

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