🇬🇷SPORTS NEWS🇺🇸

Philadelphia Eagles football star Pete Pihos was one of the first Greek Americans to star in the NFL and was a member of the greatest generation. Pihos helped lead the Eagles to back to back championships in 1948 and 1949. He was named first-team All-Pro in 1948, 1949, 1952-1955. The Eagles needed a defensive end in 1952 so they moved Pihos to the position. Pihos would be named All-Pro as a defensive end. The next three seasons 1953-55 he would lead the league in receiving. Pete Pihos was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970.

Pihos was drafted into the United States Army in 1944 while excelling at Indiana University as a college football star. He served in the 35th Infantry Division under General George S. Patton. Pihos was awarded The Bronze Star and Silver Star for his exceptional courage.  For the younger generation The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for their heroic achievement. The Silver Star Medal is awarded for singular acts of valor or heroism over a brief period of combat.

New England Soccer fans were thrilled when Buckingham, Browne, and Nichols graduate Jack Panayotou would pursue his soccer dream. Panayotou a midfielder signed his professional contract at 18 years old for the New England Revolution. He was recently featured on WCVB TV from his hometown of Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Panayotou was a member of the U-19 Academy team that won the 2022 MLSNEXT Cup  National Championship. Panayotou scored a tournament-high of 6 goals and also scored the winning goal. He was named the 2022 United Healthcare Revolution Academy Player of the Year. The 19-year-old Panayotou has a bright future in professional soccer in the USA and Europe.

Sonya Lamonakis a New York Public School teacher in her 24th year of teaching was inducted into the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, Nevada on October 7th. Lamonakis said,“Being inducted into such a prestigious, Hall of Fame is a great honor for me. I’m happy to follow along with the other great women that I’ve been on this journey with me.” The former IBO World Heavyweight Champion had an amazing career. Lamonakis started boxing at age 28 and would have her first professional fight in 2010. She would move up the ranks quickly with a 6-0 record. In 2013 she would win the New York State Heavyweight Title beating Tiffany Woodard with a unanimous decision. In 2014 Lamonakis fought for the vacant IBO World Heavyweight Title against former World Champion Carlette Ewell. Lamonakis would win a 98-95,96-94, 96-97 split decision victory to become the World Heavyweight Champion. Lamonakis during her boxing career would teach during the day and box after school earning the nickname "The Scholar." Sonya is from Turner Falls in Massachusetts. Axia(Aξία)

Gas interviewed Boxing Champion Sonya Lamonakis:  "Since retiring from competition, I have been busy being part of USA Boxing Metropolitan, which is the governing body amateur boxing in New York City upstate New York in Long Island. I'm still teaching for New York City Public Schools in Queens, New York City. I also volunteer my time with New York City Cops and Kids, which is a nonprofit three boxing gyms across New York City with free access for kids ages 12 to 21. I'm still working with Gleason’s Gym Give it a Dream Program which helps disadvantaged youth become better people through boxing. Although my competition journey is over, I feel like my real mission has just begun creating opportunities for these other kids to lift the next generation to the stars." 

Champion Sonya Lamonakis was very proud to have family and friends that honored her by traveling to the induction ceremony. Shown in photo left to right Sharon Lamonakis (Mother), Kathi Batsis (Thea), Sonya Lamonakis Angie M. (Friend), Tina & David Lankowski.

Nicollette Kiorpes has a big following in the Greek-American community of Worcester, Massachusetts. Kiorpes had an outstanding career at Doherty High School where she graduated from in 2022. She would be the only player selected from New England to the prestigious FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India. Kiorpes Kiorpes scored a huge goal in a 1-1 tie with Brazil.

Kiorpes' hard work and dedication had her listed as the No.10 ranked player in the USA.

During her career, she attended several United States Youth National Team training camps and worked diligently to succeed. Nicollette was recruited by many schools but chose Penn State where she was on the 2023 varsity women’s roster as a freshman. 

Angelo Saroukos, a 6 foot 5 inch, 310 pound, Junior Offensive Tackle Honor Roll student was interviewed by GAS. We asked him several questions and he responded as follows:

“My football journey began at Crespi Carmelite High School in 2021. It was there that I learned the fundamentals of playing left tackle and played varsity football as a freshman.  During my two seasons at Crespi, I won the best lineman team awards both seasons and won the All-League Lineman award for my sophomore season. These accomplishments got me invitations to attend and participate in football camps across the country featuring the Polynesian Bowl, National Prep Showcase, and the Offense-Defense All-American Bowl.  Following my sophomore season, I decided my journey needed a change and transferred to Newbury Park High School.  My junior year this season at Newbury Park was derailed early due to a shoulder injury for which I am currently recovering, but the prognosis is bright.  I continue to practice and rehab on a daily basis to prepare for my senior season, where the only derailing that will occur is that of defenders that line up against me.  While my injury has temporarily slowed my recruiting process, I nonetheless have received an offer from Portland State University, and have drawn interest from San Diego State University, Fresno State University, and Yale, to name a few. I early anticipate my return to the field to show major Universities that I will be an asset to any program. My family visits Crete every year. I am very proud of my Greek Heritage.” Angelo is the son of Parasko and Nadia Saroukos and has a brother Alexander that attends Baylor University. The family lives in Southern California.

Congratulations to Chris Atsaves who will be honored by the Hellenic BAR Association Foundation as 2023 HELLENE OF THE YEAR on November 18th in Chicago, IL, USA. 

A Big Thank you to Supreme Athletic Director Chris Atsaves for providing

GAS with schedules and information.

National Bowling Tournament

April 13-14  Town and Country Lanes Joliet, IL

National Golf Tournaments

April 17-21 2024 Lowes Ventana Canyon Tucson, Arizona

September 24-28 2024 Costa Navarino, Greece

Basketball Tournament

March 6-10 2024 AHEPA Bone Marrow Basketball Tournament Chicago, IL

Greece’s Georgios Giakoumakis was voted the best “Newcomer of the Year” in Major League Soccer. Giakoumakis who plays for Atlanta United beat out Lionel Messi of Inter Miami CF and Eduard Lowen of Saint Louis City CITY SC.

The 28-year-old striker was playing for Scottish Giants Celtic and signed with Atlanta United in February. In his first season, he scored a spectacular 17 goals and 3 assists in 27 games.

In Basketball Panathinaikos got its first road win in the Euroleague beating a very good Alba Hoop team in Berlin, Germany. The Greens team would be victorious 98-85, led by Dino Mitoglou’s double-double scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Marius Grigonis chipped in with 16 points for the Trifili. (Shamrocks) 

The Hellenic Initiative 11th Annual Gala will take place on December 2, 2023 in New York City. The spectacular event will honor entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Leonsis Majority Owner and Chairman of the Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, and Washington Mystics.

Every Kuriakee, ON AIR WNTN Grecian Echoes 1550AM from Boston “ The Athens of America”  The one and only Greek-America Sports show “THE BENCHWARMERS” Hosted by Greek radio legend Ted Demetriades, Bill Galatis, Nick Ypsilantis, and Nick Markopoulos. They are serious and hilarious. They brilliantly discuss all sports along with the Three Stooges, the koutala, and pantofles.

The Boston Globe recently wrote an article on recently retired Central Catholic  Football Coach Chuck Adamopoulos. Coach Adamopoulos had a great career record of 204-79, with 3 State Titles, and 13 Merrimack Valley Conference Championships in his 26 years of coaching and teaching business. Coach Adamopoulos is still an advisor to the team. Chuck is the son of Peabody High School legendary Football Coach Arthur Adamopoulos coaching 21 years with a 129-60-6 record.

The George Mougolias Memorial Basketball Tournament recently announced that the tournament will take place on April18-21,2024 in Chicago. They are the first to announce in the Greek-American Basketball Circuit for 2024.

The  78th Harry Agganis Basketball Tournament has announced their tournament will take place April 5-7, at the Saint George Community Center in Lynn, Massachusetts.

The Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame was created in 1980 to honor former players, coaches, and administrators. Can you name the two Greek American players on the Wall of Fame? Send your answers to greekamericansports@gmail.com 

We want to thank all GAS followers for your kind comments. Please keep sharing posts and spreading the GAS News. As well as keep texting us your athletes, tournament results, photos,and community sports news. In our next post, we would like to have our readership send in the name of a family member or friend that suited up for a Thanksgiving Day High School Football Game. If you have a family member that is cheering let us know. Also, keep sending us your sports information now that Winter sports season is around the corner.  We would like to inform all GAS followers that we will be releasing our Instagram in which you could follow our latest news release, GAS sports alerts, youth sports results, featured athlete, and archived posts. 

Greek Idiom - για τελευταία φορά = for the last time, your last chance.

Greek Philosophy - The unexamined life is not worth living. Socrates