🇬🇷SPORTS NEWS🇺🇸

Upon graduating from Syracuse University in 2017, Mariah Janos quickly launched herself into the world of sports broadcasting, serving as a sideline reporter in the Cape Cod Baseball League which features the top prospects in the NCAA. From there, Mariah’s career has taken her all over the country. First, she went North to Minnesota, covering the Vikings and the Twins. Then she went East, returning to her home city of Boston to cover the Patriots, Celtics and Bruins for a digital sports network while also covering collegiate and professional Lacrosse. Her talents then led her South to Florida to work in sports betting and doing various sideline reporting jobs. Now, Mariah is tackling the West in Las Vegas, getting to experience every major sporting event in town – most notably Super Bowl LVIII. Simply Marvelous Mariah!

While the ever-evolving sports scene in Vegas was a major draw, another factor in Mariah’s move to Sin City was the opportunity to host a nation-wide sports betting show called ‘Beat the Odds.’ The show is primarily focused on the NFL season, airing weekly on over 100 stations across the country including the YES Network in New York. You may be wondering where this passion for sports came from? Growing up in the greater Boston area, Mariah was born into the diehard fandom of New England teams. At a young age, Mariah started playing sports herself, being a part of the GOYA basketball team for the St. Demetrios Church in Weston, MA where she and her family are members. Originally, Mariah’s family is from Vassara, Sparta and Mitilini. Her Greek roots run deep and she strives to incorporate her culture into everything she does.

Μπράβο Μαρία!

George Athanasiadis is a catcher for division 1 Merrimack College. Athanasiadis is a strong 5’10” right handed batter who has played varsity baseball for the Warriors for three seasons. He has seen game action this season and has the respect of teammates and coaches. In his sophomore year 2022, he appeared in 4 games hitting .333 and had four putouts. Last season 2023, as a sophomore, George increased his game appearances to 23 and started 6 games. He was up to bat 23 times and drove in 3 runs. 

Athanasiadis attended the Landmark School for high school where he competed in baseball and wrestling as a star athlete. George is the son of Paul and Danielle Athanasiadis and has three siblings Nadia, Emily, and Aidan. The family resides in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Alexia Mousouroulis, a freshman, 5’ 10,” talented guard was a member of New York University Women’s 2024 NCAA Division III National undefeated, 31-0, Championship Team and UAA Conference Champions. The Violets ended their perfect season with a 51-41 over Smith College in Columbus, Ohio.

A New York native Mousouroulis has a great resume and is a great competitor on the court. Alexia attended the Greek Super League Athletic Academy and travelled to play in Greece two years. Her JV Freshman Year Alexia led her team to CHSAA City Championship with a 25-1 record and she was named MVP. She was invited to train with U18 Greek National Team.

Awards and statistics for Mousouroulis include the following at Archbishop Molloy High School: Varsity - 20 PPG, 1,000-point scorer, Tablet All-Star Team, Coaches award, Most Valuable Player, First Team All-League, Three-Year starter and Captain, Recipient of the National Sportswriters Association Award and Marianne Noonan Award.

Alexia Mousouroulis is very proud of her Greek heritage and is active with the Greek

community of New York. Her grandparents are from historic and beautiful Chios and Sparta.

Junior basketball phenom Nikki Kerstein sophomore in 2023, at only 15 years of age, she attended a premiere showcase event in New York and was selected to train with the Greek National U-16 to U-18 squads. The 5'8” point guard will be entering her senior year in the Fall of 2024 at Montini Catholic H.S., where she plays for head coach Shannon Spanos. In the off-season, Nikki plays for Mac Irvin'S "Fire" AAU team. A silky-smooth ball-handler with an impossible-to-guard lane floater and long-range sharp-shooting acumen, Nikki's accolades include Regional 3-point champion, Sectional 3-point champion, and State 3rd place. She recently surpassed 1500 career points, averaging 14.6 points, along with 4.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.3 steals per game during her illustrious prep career. Team-wise, Nikki has been a key player on two state Final Four teams. She's currently weighing more than 30 NCAA Division I scholarship offers. Nikki also maintains a 3.9 GPA out of 4.0, another of her myriad power stats. Nikki's parents are former prep football star Billy Kerstein, who was also MVP of the Harry Agganis basketball tournament boys high school division in 1987, and Anastasia Georganas Kerstein, a state basketball champion who started four years at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

AHEPA Supreme Athletic Director Chris Atsaves announced in the Spring of 2021 the

establishment of the Agganis Family-Galatis Award to honor the nation’s most outstanding Hellenic high school athlete. AHEPA Hall of Fame Director Atty. Gregory Stamos informed Greek American Sports that senior George Vomvolakis a powerful star running back for Greenwich High School in Connecticut isthis year’s Agganis Family-Galatis Award winner. George Vomvolakis had an incredible career and along with his brother Peter a star center helped lead Greenwich to a CIAC State Championship in 2022. George will be attending DI Stonehill College on an athletic scholarship. Mike Agganis, Greg Agganis, and Bill Galatis are responsible for the thoughtful establishmentand funding of this prestigious award. Mike and Greg are the nephew and grandnephew, of the

late iconic Hellenic super star Harry Agganis.

Congrats to the Papaflessas Women’s Team! We're proud to announce that they're the 2024 Women's Open Division Champions at the Teddy-K Classic Tournament that took place at Hellenic College in Brookline, MA. The team made history as the first team from Chicago to win, and the first team outside the east coast! Basketball continues to unite them, but their bond off-court is what truly shines. Thank you to all players for representing Papaflessas and our Chicago Hellenic basketball community with pride, and a shoutout to the tourney committee! Director Tony Kariotis did a wonderful job directing the 16TH Annual Teddy K Classic in memory of his father.

Hot off the GAS press, via satellite from Athens Greece, Giannis Antetokounmpo has commited to play in the Olympic Qualifiers for the Greek National basketball team. 

President & Chief Executive Officer Nick Larigakis of the AHI has done amazing work for Hellenism since 1987. The Greek American community was well represented at a recent Phillies home game against the Rangers. The fans enjoyed all the aspects of Greek culture that were presented. Click the video to the right to watch the proud Greek American community of Philadelphia at the Phillies game. 

Every Kuriakee ON AIR WNTN Grecian Echoes WNTN1550AM from Boston “The Athens of America” The one and only Greek-America Sports show “THE BENCHWARMERS” Hosted by Greek radio legends Ted Demetriades, Bill Galatis, Nick Ypsilantis, and Nick Markopoulos.

Greek Hoop Scoop- Check out an amazing site about all things about Greek Basketball. They cover Greek and Orthodox basketball tournaments individual players, teams, and much more. Editor Terry Poulos, is a long-time sports columnist for The Greek Star and Windy City Greek.com as well as a Greek American media journalist.

The 14th Teddy K Classic in memory of Teddy Kariotis was the last of the Greek Hoop

Tournaments Tour. Director Tony Kariotis did a fine job attracting 25 teams to participate in the basketball tournament at Hellenic College that took place on May 8-12th.

Greek Idiom - άδικος κόπος-useless trouble

Greek Philosophy-  “Youth is easily deceived because it is quick to hope.” Aristotle

We want to thank all our GAS followers for your thoughtful messages. In the month of June, we will continue covering all sports in the USA and worldwide. Our staff is going to focus on some of the outstanding Greek American student- athletes that have graduated high school this spring 2024 and some of our superb juniors. We are looking forward to the  announcement from AHEPA’S Hall of Fame Chairman Atty. Gregory Stamos of this year’s inductees. We will also be updating the community on announcements from AHEPA Supreme Athletic Director Chris Atsaves on any news on our Maids of Athena or Sons of Pericles on athletics. In addition, we will be posting on our platforms a one week special on one of the greatest athletes in the history of all Sport Harry Agganis. We are dedicated to educate and inform the next generation on the life of the “Golden Greek” Harry Agganis from his days at Lynn Classical as America’s greatest school boy athlete, as Boston University’s All-American quarterback, and to batting cleanup for his beloved Boston Red Sox. 

Congratulations! Συγχαρητήρια to all our high school and college graduates.  Especially to our Greek school and Sunday school graduates. 🦉

"AEIN APISTYEIN"-"ALWAYS EXCELLENCE"

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