🇬🇷SPORTS NEWS🇺🇸

New Englanders enjoyed watching Ted Karras play for the Patriots for five seasons. Karras won Super Bowls with the Patriots in 2016 and 2018. Ted Karras started all 16 games in the 2022 season at center for the  Cincinnati Bengals and was a team captain. Karras is still playing for the Bengals and again is one of the team captains. He has seen lots of action as the Bengals starting center and has played well all season especially in Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals, a 34-20 victory. Karras of course is in the direct lineage of the most famous Greek-American family in NFL History.

Ted Karras grandfather Ted Karras Sr.and uncles Lou and Alex Karras played in the NFL in the 1950'S and 1960'S. His father Ted Karras Jr. played during the 1987 NFL season. Ted's great grandfather Dr. George Karras immigrated to Gary, Indiana form the island of Chios.

Nathan Zacharakis is a 6-foot 5, 330 pound starting offensive lineman at Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire. Zacharakis attended North Middlesex Regional High School in Massachusetts where he received varsity letters in Football, Lacrosse, and Track & Field. He received many honors as a high school football player. Nate this season as a freshman offensive lineman for the Franklin Pierce Ravens has been a dominant force on the field. He strikes fear into his opposing defenders and finishes his blocks every play. Nate is proud of his Spartan roots and proudly carries his Hellenism close to his heart.  

Sinharitiria, Congratulations to Christina Loukas being inducted into the prestigious Indiana University Hall of Fame. Many Greek-Americans remember her competing in diving during the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics games. Christina was simply amazing at Indiana University! Her diving career featured six individual Big Ten titles,11 All-American team selections, three NCAA runner-up finishes, and the 2009 NCAA Championship on the three-meter board. Loukas during her college years was named Indiana University Female Athlete of the Year. She would also receive the NCAA Diver of the Year in 2009. Christina is the daughter of George and Patty Loukas. Αξία!

GAS interviewed Christina's uncle Tony Loukas on the Loukas family history.

Synopsis of the Loukas Family Journey through LIfe 

"In the fall of 1953 and eight years after the end of WWII, our family emigrated from Tarsina, Corinth, Greece to America. A month’s voyage which brought mostly displaced survivors of the war to New York City. We made our way to Grand Central Station for a 16-hour trip to Chicago which has become our home. Dino Loukas, Dad, worked at Republic Steel, 116th S Avenue O, Chicago’s far Southeast side, for 30 years to raise the five of us, three boys and two girls while our mother Sofia, the backbone of our family, kept us fed and pumped our egos to face our challenges. Anthony attended CVS while the other siblings went to Bowen. Both excellent schools that prepared their students to face life as productive citizens. Tony pestered his mom and eventually she allowed him to play on the football team which allowed Angelo & George to play Football for Bowen. The children all graduated from University, Diane (UIC) Chemistry, Stella (ISU) Nursing, George (SIU) Education, Angelo (NU) Business and Tony (UW) Education. The three brothers born in Greece were chosen captains of their respective college football teams. Along with having a two-time Olympic Diver Christina, Alexander played Quarterback at Stanford, Dino Central States Steer Wrestling Champ, Yianna College Basketball at Maryland, MBA’s, and Doctors. Most importantly, we are grateful to have children who are responsible adults with strong supportive nuclear families. Thank you, Sofia and Kostantinos Loukopoulos. You will always be our heroes."

Alexi Karalis is a freshman on the Providence varsity. He was a graduate of Belmont High School. Alexi has played a lot of soccer including (2013-2020) for the Boston Bolts and New England Revolution Academy (2020-2023). Alexi played well in The New England Revs to a U19 MLS Next Championship Title in 2023. Karalis has seen action this year for the Providence Friars and will have a bright career the next three years at the division 1 level.  

Connecticut - The Greenwich High School Cardinals in Connecticut have talented brothers George, Peter, and Nick Vomvolakis on their roster. The brothers have been receiving quite a bit of press coverage and it is well deserved. Last year George a powerful running back at 5-foot-10, 186 pounds rushed for 1,033 yards and 12 touchdowns. Peter a 6 foot 2" inches, 280 pounds) strong center was a New Haven Register first team All-State Pick last season. The brothers helped lead Greenwich to a CIAC state championship in 2022, crushing Fairfield Prep 37-17. Peter and George are both being recruited to play college football. The youngest brother Nick is the starting center on the freshman team. 

Massachusetts- Medfield’s quarterback Niko Hasapidis threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score in Medfield’s 22-20 win over Bellingham. Winthrop High School lineman Jeremy Pena has played both junior varsity and varsity this season for the Vikings. Masconomet’s running back Leonidas Koutoulas ran for 63 yards in a hard fought 20-6 victory over Beverly. GAS will feature more football players next week.  

Jason Xintaropoulos scored two goals to lead Billerica in a 4-1 win over Andover (Video to the right). Niko Georgoulis scored a dramatic winning goal with 32 seconds left to give Shawsheen a 1-0 victory over Taunton. Xintaropoulos and Gergoulis have received  lots of press this year in the Boston Globe and Boston Herald. (Click play on the VIDEO to watch Jason score a G-O-A-L against Andover.)

Greece had an amazing showing in the 2023 Amerigol LATAM Cup Division 1 Men’s Championship considering they had not played since 2013.

Argentina would defeat Greece Heritage HC in a thrilling double overtime win 3-2 in the championship game held at Florida Panthers Ice Den.

Greek Heritage HC coach Anastasios Kirkos was very proud of the team’s performance. Coach Kirkos, worked public relations for Chicago in the AHL. Greece had not participated in a tournament for ten years.

The Greek Heritage HC received motivational Instagrams prior to the final game from NHL Hockey and USA Olympic captain Legend  Chris Chelios, former NHL forward Chris Contos, and current Blackhawks forward Andreas Athanasiou.

Συγχαρητήρια, Congratulations to Coach Kirkos and his team. Hopefully, this will revive the Greek Heritage HC hockey program and it will help with funding. There are numerous talented young players in the USA, Canada, and worldwide to be a competitive team.

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

November 1-5 2023Reunion Resort Orlando Florida

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

AHEPA Athletic Hall OF Fame Chairman Atty. Gregory Stamos once again delivered a first class Athletic Awards Luncheon at the 101st Annual AHEPA Supreme Convention. Among the honorees was the Honorable Judge Thomas C.Yeotis, the recipient of the AHEPA Special Recogntion Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership in and support of AHEPA and Hellenic athletes for over 70 years. Judge Yeotis was a founding member of the AHEPA Athletic Hall of Fame, its first secretary and later Chairman. For over 50 years he coached AHEPA Flint Chapter 141 Basketball Team. Judge Yeotis would always enter competitive teams in the NHIBT and The Harry Agganis Basketball Tournaments. Flint AHEPA under his leadership is the only AHEPA Chapter to sponsor 3 National Tournaments in basketball,softball, and bowling.In 1982, Tom coached a very good AHEPA All-Star Team to Greece.Judge Yeotis gave a lifetime of dedication and excellence to Hellenism, AHEPA, Athletics, and the Flint community. Ἄξιος!

This past summer at the 101st Annual AHEPA Supreme Convention, Maria Sakkari received The Harry Agganis Most Outstanding World Wide Athlete Award at the Athletic Award Luncheon. AHEPA made a good choice in Sakkari who is a great representative for Hellenism.

Tennis star Maria Sakkari won her second title of her career at the Women’s Final at the Guadalajara Open Tennis Tournament. She defeated Caroline Dolehide 7-5, 6-3, in one hour and 43 minutes of play. Sakkari with this big win!! Sakkari jumped to number 6 in the world.  Bravo Maria!

Ancient Olympia was the location of the 2023 European Weightlifting Federation (EWF) represented by twelve European countries. The unique event was a huge success.

The president of the Greek Federation Pyrros Dimas just happens to be the most decorated modern Olympic weight lifter was thrilled with the event.

Pyrros was interviewed by GAS: “This was an amazing event and experience. I was so proud to be having this event at Ancient Olympia. There is nothing like it. The competing athletes from other countries were so excited and some were brought to tears,” said an emotional Pyrros Dimas.

There was a lot of creative activity such as teams taking ancient city names like Sparta, Athens, and Thebes. The champions were honored with beautifully designed vases and the ancient olive crown symbols of victory and honor in ancient Hellas.

Every Kuriakee,a ON AIR WNTN Grecian Echoes 1550AM from Boston “ The Athens of America”  The one and only Greek-America Sports show 12:00 noon “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 George Mougolias Memorial Basketball Tournament  recently announced that the tournament will take place on April 18-21, 2024 in Chicago. They are the first to announce in the Greek-American Basketball Circuit for 2024.

Book Corner - Coaching Soccer: A player development approach combining theory, methodology, and practice from U6 to U18 by Arthur Dimitrakopoulos.

Adelphia- Legendary players Chris Chelios, Chris Contos and current NHL player Andreas Athanasiou exemplified great brotherhood unity with their inspirational Instagram  messages to the  Greece Heritage Hockey Team. Bravo! We need more of this in our community at all levels engaging with our youth.

Family, Oikogenia - A Big High Five to all the grandparents Papou, Yiayia, and Parents taking their children to Greek School and Sunday School. 

Greek Idiom-Φασούλι το φασούλι, γεμίζει το σακούλι-Bean by bean the sack gets full: On the merits of saving your money

Greek Philosophy- Give me a lever long enough, and a fulcrum strong enough, and single-handed I can move the world. Archimedes 

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