Dr. Paul Drew
Welcome to the tenth issue of volume three of Swish, a weekly periodical with recaps and photos of Santa Monica YMCA youth basketball games, and other pertinent info such as standings, schedules, announcements, and updates from the program.
The past weekend of June 15th was All-Star Saturday followed by season ending banquets and year round awards on Father’s Day Sunday, June 16th.
This past season, all leagues were named after dog breeds in honor of the former interim basketball director, Christian Gonzalez, becoming a veterinarian technician.
I have had a long standing professional and personal relationship with the majority owner of the Los Angeles Lakers, Jeanie Buss, for over 25 years, and she has been heavily involved with animal rescue. I asked her, which pet adoption agency was her favorite, and she recommended the following:
http://www.perfectpetrescue.com/
So if you are thinking of adopting a pet, please check out Perfect Pet Rescue.
Fall registration for youth basketball season, at the Santa Monica YMCA, will be available online at http://welcome.ymcasm.org/ or in person at the Santa Monica YMCA on August 1st, 2019.
This past Sunday, during our year end awards, we honored the man who resurrected the Santa Monica YMCA youth basketball program, Pete Arbogast, by inducting him into our Santa Monica Youth Basketball Hall of Fame. He restarted the program in 2011 with only 25 participants, and brought it to full capacity with 300 kids playing every season before his retirement as the youth basketball director last year.
We all know him as “The Voice” of USC football, a counselor at the Santa Monica YMCA Camp Big Bear, and his lifelong dedication to improving the lives of our youth through the YMCA. But what many of us don’t know, is what he also does, to help those in their final moments
The final call: The voice of USC football does his most important work for an audience of one
By BILL PLASCHKE, LA TIMES
AUG 10, 2018
Marcia Kislinger was dying, taking her last breaths, but her family wasn’t there yet. They had just been notified.
They were rushing from their homes to her bedside at Providence St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica. They were worried they wouldn’t arrive in time, and the 63-year-old woman would die alone.
As they raced into her room, they suddenly stopped, struck with the oddest of sights. She had company.
Sitting at her bedside was a stranger with a walrus mustache and the touch of a feather. He was stroking her hand and whispering into her ear. She was not responding. He continued speaking.
“It’s OK. … I’m right here. … You’re not alone.’’
The family stared at each other in wonder.
“We were all like, ‘Who is this man?’’’ recalled Eddie Kislinger, Marcia’s brother. “He was a total stranger, yet he was so calm, so kind, there was something angelic about him.”
When the man stood up, he addressed the family in oddly familiar baritone tones. He was wearing a one-word name tag:
“Peter.’’
Later, outside the room, Kislinger asked Peter if he knew his sister. He did not. He asked Peter if talking to dying patients was his vocation. He replied that, no, it was not.
Actually, Peter said, he has this other job where he talks to hundreds of thousands of Angelenos under far different circumstances.
“That’s when it hit me,’’ Kislinger said. “I realized that the voice comforting my sister in her final hours was the voice of USC football.’’
Peter was, indeed, Pete Arbogast, the longtime Trojans football radio announcer who answers to a higher play-calling. His most important listeners never know his name. His most important words are often the last they hear.
Arbogast, 63, is a volunteer in the Providence St. John’s No One Dies Alone program, a nationwide service that offers companionship to dying patients.
If a terminally ill patient’s family is not immediately available, or if they have no family, Arbogast is one of about 50 volunteers who might be summoned to their bedside. He spends as many as four hours comforting them.
He sits at their shoulders, believing they can still hear. He lightly strokes their arms or pats their backs, hoping they can still feel. He has a voice that has famously boomed throughout Southern California for 23 years of Saturdays, yet he lowers it to a calming hush.
“It’s like I’m just a guide from one place to the next,’’ Arbogast said. “I’m just there to help you out, to make sure you’re OK on your journey.’’
Sometimes he talks about the day. Sometimes he talks about sports. He has never once talked about USC football. Because volunteers are only known by their first names, few in the hospital know he is associated with USC football.
Often, Arbogast reads words of inspiration culled from books he collects just for these occasions, from the works of writers such as Henry Van Dyke and Howard A. Walter.
“Things a man must learn to do, if he would make his record true … to love his fellow men sincerely, to act from honest motives purely.’’
“I would be true, for there are those who trust me; I would be pure, for there are those who care …’’
During his 10 visits in the last several years, no patient has died while Arbogast was in the room. Some have died shortly after he left. He sometimes walks away feeling as depleted, as if he had just left the Coliseum after calling a USC game against Notre Dame.
The fact is, no one should die alone. That would be horrible. This is for them. PETE ARBOGAST
“Sometimes I feel like I’ve just finished a broadcast, I’m so emotionally exhausted,’’ Arbogast said. “But it’s not about me. It’s not for me. The fact is, no one should die alone. That would be horrible. This is for them. Even if they don’t know we’re there, we’re there.’’
That has been a mantra for Arbogast’s life, one that could be in the brightest spotlight but does its best work in the shadows.
Arbogast has been the radio announcer for more USC football games than anybody, passing the great Tom Kelly after Kelly began splitting his time between television and radio.
“He’s become an iconic figure in USC sports history,’’ said John Jackson, his partner in the booth.
He is a broadcasting icon whose full-time job is not in broadcasting. He is the director of youth sports for the Santa Monica YMCA. When he’s not providing the soundtrack for USC football games — for which he is paid on a per-game basis — he runs recreation basketball leagues and chaperones kids at summer camps.
“I remember telling my dad about this, and he’s like, ‘Wait, Pete Arbogast works for you?’’’ said Erika Alsthule, the YMCA’s youth and family department director. “I am very surprised he would do this, but he’s always giving back to the community. People around here know him for that.’’
Arbogast has always worked at local YMCAs — nearly a dozen — because he grew up around the Hollywood YMCA and saw how the experience could change people. He was molded by the city — Los Angeles John Marshall High, Los Angeles Community College, USC — and wants to pay it forward.
“Pete has such a good, strong and generous heart,’’ said Tim Tessalone, USC’s sports information director.
Arbogast has to be the only Southland broadcaster who also occasionally does public address announcements for football games at his former high school, and referees YMCA youth games when nobody else is available. The other night, he even threw out the first pitch at a Little League playoff game, which perfectly illustrates a low-key lifestyle that includes living in a small, rented Venice apartment with his wife, Jenny, and driving a Pontiac Vibe with 220,000 miles on it.
“I’ve always been lucky in having my dream USC job, but never been lucky in money. I never really had any,” he said. “But I’m OK. I’m good. I wake up happy, and that’s all that matters. When I’m done, I’m going to look up and say that was all great stuff.’’
Great stuff but tough stuff, this part of his life that involves waiting for the death of strangers. Arbogast became a volunteer after answering an ad in the Santa Monica Daily Press. He would still be serving anonymously if not for an e-mail from Eddie Kislinger, who thought his family’s surprise should be shared.
“He’s not Pete the USC guy, he’s just a gentle, compassionate giant named Peter,’’ said Erin Pickerel, a volunteer coordinator at Providence St. John’s. “He brings this calmness, this assurance. You can feel his presence.’’
Pickerel once walked into a room where Arbogast was talking softly to a patient while lightly holding his hand. She remembers his words exactly, the words of a football announcer calling a play that carries a soul.
‘’You’re not alone, buddy. I’m right here.”
Rookies
Rookie League
First team
Rookie League
First team
• Vitalina Moncher Yorkies Most Valuable Player
• Tristan Hayes Terriers
• Sylvie Levitt Maltese
• Tiam Baraghoush Maltese
• Aidan Smith Doxies
• Nicco Balerini Doxies
• Rhys Scheflen Terriers
• Grace Samy Yorkies
• Louis Meehan-Smith Chihuahuas
• Lauren Bryan Yorkies
Second team
• Luca Samson Pugs
• Dechen Lemond Chihuahuas
• Zander Chin Chihuahuas
• Benji Saunders Maltese
• Laila Elliott Pugs
• David Casparian Pugs
• Eloise Siegler Terriers
• Ryan Lim Yorkies
• Kai Badat Yorkies
• Theo Franklin Terriers
Honorable mention
• Richard Haro Chihuahuas
• Reyansh Varma Pugs
• Rosalina Storstein Yorkies
• Juney Jones Doxies
• Roman Sweeney Doxies
Rookie League All Rookie/Newcomer Team
First team
• Nicco Balerini Doxies Rookie of the season
• Rhys Scheflen Terriers Newcomer of the season
• Reyansh Varma Pugs
• Lauren Bryan Yorkies
• Ryan Lim Yorkies
Second team
• Daniel Gruft Doxies
• Branden Forester Pugs
• Hawkins Wakefield Pugs
• Roman Gabriel Terriers
• Dylan Geary Terriers
• Stellan Haberli Yorkies
Honorable Mention
• Rohan Sellers Chihuahuas
• Stephan Jirnih Doxies
• Mae Jones Doxies
• Maia Shenk-Miro Doxies
• Triton Hayes Terriers
• Henry Pellar Maltese
• Kiera Wheeler Terriers
• Mariella Belew Yorkies
Bantams
Bantam League
First team
• Noah McLaurin Spaniels Most Valuable Player
• Noah Hagooli Bolaños Beagles
• Rayan Etemadnia Shelties
• Annika Cook Corgies
• Jordan Blum Corgies
• Michael Mikhail Pinschers
• Miles Franklin Schnauzers
• Vaughn Elliott Schnauzers
• Ben Steelman Scotties
• Gavin O’Brien Spaniels
• Cassius Taylor Bassets
Second team
• Erol Besingcioglu Bassets
• Dominic Drew Pinschers
• Aiden Lin Shelties
• Veronica Machala Beagles
• Vihaan Nawathe Corgies
• Dylan Kravitz Scotties
• Alan Larkin Scotties
• Wiley Scheflen Shelties
• River Zelenovic Spaniels
• Koa Entsminger Spaniels
• Jacopo Stabilini Beagles
Honarable Mention
• Iwa Hashim Bassets
• Oliver Kowalczuk Bassets
• Bella Kariger Beagles
• Jenson Montague Pinschers
• Brandon Israels Scotties
• Elliot Ma Shelties
• Sammy Levi Corgies
• Daisy Siegler Beagles
Bantam League All Rookie Team
First team
• Jordan Blum Corgies Rookie of the Season
• Wiley Scheflen Shelties
Second Team
• Taylor Summers Beagles
• Kammie Chen Corgies
Honarable Mention
• Scarlett Harris Beagles
• Misha Lakhani Beagles
• Ryan Drew Pinschers
• Aaron King Schnauzers
Bantam League All Newcomer Team
(Only for first season playing in Santa Monica YMCA league)
First Team
• Wiley Scheflen Shelties Newcomer of the season
• Jordan Blum Corgies
Second Team
• Taylor Summers Beagles
• Kammie Chen Corgies
Honorable Mention
• Chloe Sullivan Bassets
• Aaron King Schnauzers
• Samantha Leeds Scotties
• Waylon Ford Shelties
Rookie to Bantam League All Transitional Team
(Only for those moving from Rookie to Bantam this season)
First Team
• Ryan Drew Pinschers Transitional Player of the Season
Second team
• Scarlett Harris Beagles
• Misha Lakhani Beagles
Honorable Mention
• Catherine Casas Beagles
Minors
9/8/19: Avenging a previous 19-point loss to the Collies, the Wolfhounds came out barking and never looked back en route to a 35-20 victory. 1st team all minor league Joseph Zak led the way with 19 points – including three 3 pointers. Alex Ghiassi and Mohammed Jahromi supported Zak’s efforts with 6 points apiece and Ryan Schuster and Marina Shickler both chipped in 2. Patrick Chang and Ryan Chambers played intense defense forcing steals and grabbing key rebounds. Wyatt Wang was aggressively looking for his shot and unselfishly fed Zak for some key buckets. The hounds smothering defense made it difficult for the Collies, a very good shooting team, to get good looks and also were also strong on the boards with many players employing fundamental boxing-out techniques. This game was unique as Coach Jonathan only cheered from the sidelines – he let different players “captain” each 4-minute interval. Schuster acknowledges the on-court leadership that many players employed and looks forward to further empowering his players in coming seasons. After a Spring of ups and downs, it was exciting to see a great group of players double their win total and end the season on a high note. Coach Jonathan believes that each player has improved over the course of the season. Some of the traits he noticed include more passionate/aggressive play, fundamental defensive stances/slides, crisper passing, stronger rebounding, improved shooting form and better decision making. He hopes that each player reflects on the learned skills and builds upon them in future seasons. Lastly, he hopes that each Wolfhound had a blast and continues next season on their hoops journey. Submitted by Coach Jonathan Schuster
Minor League
First Team
• Akiva Heller Pointers Most Valuable Player
• Theo Haberli Akitas
• London Coleman Whippets
• Kalen Anderson Collies
• Sophia Levi Dalmatians
• Leo Mooney Labs
• James Cook Labs
• Nate Blum Pointers
• Eddie Stein Labs
• Justin Tun Dalmatians
• Joseph Zak Wolfhounds
• Isley Williams Setters
Second Team
• Jace O’Brien Whippets
• Ryan Schuster Wolfhounds
• Kai Mevasse Pointers
• Priya Mevasse Pointers
• Amiel Doustan Akitas
• Max Hinton Collies
• James Petrovich Dalmatians
• Zoe Debenning Labs
• Atobek Nasimov Dalmatians
• Mohamad Jahromi Wolfhounds
• Evan Chang Akitas
• Darien Jones Akitas
• Weston Keslow Labs
• Sean Saunders Setters
• Asher Eng Whippets
Honorable mention
• Olivia Duarte Pointers
• Tavio Esposito Pointers
• Griffin Glowacki Setters
• Gavin Bao Setters
• Asher Eng Whippets
• Parker Cappiccille Collies
• Jarvis Wakefield Whippets
Minor League All Rookie Team
First Team
• James Cook Labs Rookie of the season
• Nate Blum Pointers
• Akiva Heller Pointers
• Kai Mevasse Pointers
• James Petrovich Dalmatians
Second Team
• Olivia Duarte Pointers
• Damien Hashim Akitas
• Amelia Hess Collies
• Parker Keslow Labs
• Javis Wakefield Whippets
• Cam Pariser Whippets
Honorable Mention
• Julian Weinerman Akitas
• Macy Zelenovic Pointers
• Jackson Shea-Fisher Whippets
• Brenden Eghrari Whippets
• Chad McNeel Whippets
Minor League All Newcomer Team
(Only for first season playing in Santa Monica YMCA league)
First Team
• Nate Blum Pointers Newcomer of the season
• Akiva Heller Pointers
Second Team
• Olivia Duarte Pointers
• Damien Hashiem Pointers
• Chad NcNeel Whippets
• Patrick Chiang Wolfhounds
Honorable mention
• Ben Yacoub Labs
• Judy Mostafa Dalmatians
• Zach Figlin Setters
Bantam to Minor League All Transitional Team
(Only for those moving from Bantam to Minor this season)
First Team
• James Petrovich Dalmatians Transitional player of the season
• James Cook Labs
Second Team
• Amelia Hess Collies
• Parker Keslow Labs
• Cam Pariser Whippets
• Jarvis Wakefield Whippets
Honorable mention
• Josephine Casas Collies
• Feliks Sleyks Collies
• Jake Kazerani Dalmatians
• Isabella Van Bilderbeek Pointers
• Macy Zelenovic Pointers
• Brenden Eghrari Whippets
• Donna Enayati Wolfhounds
• Wyatt Wang Wolfhounds
• Julien Weinerman Akitas
Majors
Major players teamed up with alumni of the Santa Monica YMCA youth basketball program to participate in a series of short games. Alumni that showed were former player of the year Andrew Daouda, Kasra Sariri, Nikki Reiterer, Lamar Garcia, Nasir Luna, Zion Qurtman, and Ryan Abbouseana. Not only did Major players have a great time playing with the alumni, but also learned valuable lessons in teamwork, in order to help them with their basketball career after leaving our program.
Louis has been submitting fabulous photos for the Swish throughout this season, and I felt it would be nice to display his amazing photography with the following photos from the Majors All Star game, and the Alumni/Majors mini-tournament.
Major League
First Team
• Eli Levi Shepherds Most Valuable Player
• Quest Miller Boxers
• Kayvon Abadi Airedales
• Luca Bainbridge Airedales
• Dom Kajota Boxers
• Eric Papazian Boxers
• Griffinn Pine Danes
• Keenan Bryant Dobies
• Rama Karimi Mastiffs
• Orlando Sandoval Shepherds
• Evan Daghighian Greyhounds
• Luke Khosla Malamutes
• Timosha Moncher Greyhounds
• Sebastian Ramirez Malamutes
Second Team
• Jason Tun Greyhounds
• Sam Rubin Dobies
• Xialoh Hermosillo Shepherds
• Conner Sullivan Dobies
• Ariadni Potamianos Mastiffs
• Bruno Picazo Malamutes
• Sasha Yansen Danes
• Lorenzo Stabilini Danes
• Aayan Lakhani Boxers
• Cy Backen Mastiffs
• Michael Hanasab Shepherds
• Keean Stoll Airedales
• Joey Little Danes
Honorable Mention
• Jack Froom Airedales
• Nathan Bekele Danes
• Matthew Hanasab Shepherds
• Dalton White Dobies
• Amir Jahromi Greyhounds
• Armaan Kohli Mastiffs
• Gordon McLean Dobies
Major League All Rookie Team
First Team
• Matthew Hanasab Shepherds Rookie of the season
• Julian Haggart Airedales
• Aayan Lakhani Boxers
Second Team
• Steven Petramale Shepherds
• Isaac Rockwell Boxers
Honorable mention
• Leul Belay Dobies
• Travis Waters Greyhounds
• Jacob Ronn Boxers
Major League All Newcomer Team
(Only for first season playing in Santa Monica YMCA league)
First Team
• Julian Haggart Airedales Newcomer of the season
Honorable mention
• Lucas Ellison Dobies
Minor to Major League All Transitional Team
(Only for those moving from Minor to Major this season)
First Team
• Aayan Lakhani Boxers Transitional player of the season
• Matthew Hanasab Shepherds
Second Team
• Jacob Ronn Boxers
• Steven Petramale Shepherds
Honorable mention
• Leul Belay Dobies
• Travis Waters Greyhounds
• Richard Cortez Malamutes
• Jonathan Shu Mastiffs
• Roberto Sierra Shepherds
• Emerson Hill Airedales
Year End Awards
Coach of the year
•Kerri Keslow
Referee of the year
•Michael Thompson
Most Improved Player of the year
•Daisy and Eloise Siegler
Most Inspirational Player of the year
•Jenson Montague
Hall of Fame
•Peter Arbogast
•Dash Decker
Team of the Year
•2018 Fall Major Rams
First team for 2018-2019
•Griffinn Pine-Player of the Year
•Bella Kariger
•Vitalina Moncher
•Dagmawi Ayele
•Sebastian Ramirez
•Jarvis Wakefield
•Quest Miller
•Aayan Lakhani
•Eli Levi
•Hunter Esposito-Doi
•Timosha Moncher
•Noah McLaurin
Second team for 2018-2019
•Theo Haberli
•James Petrovich
•Keenan Bryant
•Ariadni Potamianos
•Sam Rubin
•Dom Kajota
•James Cook
•Parker Cappiccille
•Dean Phalen
•Tristan Hayes
•Evan Daghighian
Honorable Mention for 2018-2019
•Gavin O’Brien
•Parker Keslow
•Weston Keslow
•Wally Levitt
•Tiam Baraghoush
•Louis Meehan Smith
•Noah Hagooli Bolaños
•Ben Steelman
•Kalen Anderson
•Sophia Levi
•Eddie Stein
•Kayvon Abadi
This Week’s Profile
Each week, Swish has a profile of a coach, player, or someone in the program who inspires all of us involved in Santa Monica YMCA basketball.
This week’s profile is of our new assistant youth sports coordinator Ian Roper. He recently switched from working the front desk of the Santa Monica YMCA to being heavily involved in the youth basketball program.
DocDrew: What got you interested in working at the YMCA?
Ian: I became interested in working at the YMCA when my friend back home started working at the local YMCA. I knew that the YMCA would be a good start for me to get into coaching and being involved the community.
DocDrew: Where did your passion for basketball come from, especially working with kids?
Ian: I have played basketball since the day I can remember. Its something I grew up doing. My father coached me for many years in a recreation league, so I have a good idea of what its about to coach kids at this age and how it can impact a kids life.
DocDrew: What are your future plans?
Ian: I plan on being a basketball head coach anywhere that I can to start. The dream is to get to Division 1 coaching and maybe even the NBA. I am currently attending college to try and get closer to that dream. I know that I will be there one day.
Special thanks to Ian Roper for coming on board to help our young basketball players excel and enjoy the game.
Scores
SATURDAY, JUNE 15**ALL STAR SATURDAY**
ROOKIE ALL STAR GAME: White jerseys 14, Gold jerseys 8
ROOKIES vs BANTAMS: Rookies 10, Bantams 7
BANTAM ALL STAR GAME: Boys 11, Girls 9
BANTAMS vs MINORS: Bantams 11, Minors 26
MINOR ALL STAR GAME: White jerseys 30, Dark jerseys 18
MINORS vs MAJORS: Minors 25, Majors 33
MAJOR ALL STAR GAME: Dark jerseys 47, White jerseys 66
MAJORS AND ALUMNI GAME was a series of multiple short games played by teams with a combination of Majors and Alumni on each team with everyone being a winner
Final Standings:
Teams are awarded 5 points for a win, 3 points for a tie, 1 point for a loss, 0 points for a forfeit. Tournament games have greater point value. Teams are listed in their place in the standings with W-L-T and team points.
Rookies:
Yorkies 6-1-2, 40 points #League Champions# *Yorkies were 2-0-0 vs the Chihuahuas
Chihuahuas 7-2-0, 40 points
Maltese 5-3-1, 32 points *one loss by forfeit
Terriers 3-4-2, 26 points
Doxies 3-4-2, 25 points
Pugs 1-9-0, 14 points
Bantams:
Spaniels 7-1-1, 42 points #League Champions#
Corgies 5-3-1, 34 points
Beagles 5-4-0, 31 points
Bassets 4-4-1, 27 points
Schnauzers 4-5-0, 26 points
Shelties 3-5-1, 25 points
Pinschers 3-5-1, 24 points
Scotties 3-6-0, 21 points
Minors:
Pointers 8-1-0, 44 points #League Champions#
Labs 7-2-0, 39 points
Akitas 6-3-0, 36 points
Whippets 4-3-2, 31 points
Setters 3-5-1, 24 points
Dalmatians 3-6-0, 22 points
Wolfhounds 2-7-0, 17 points *Better record(1-1) against the Setters.
Collies 2-7-0, 17 points *(0-1) against the Setters
Majors:
Shepherds 8-1-0, 44 points #League Champions#
Boxers 7-2-0, 40 points
Greyhounds 6-3-0, 35 points
Malamutes 5-4-0, 31 points
Danes 3-6-0, 22 points
Dobies 3-6-0, 21 points
Airedales 2-7-0, 17 points
Mastiffs 2-7-0, 18 points
Thank you very much,
Dr. Paul Drew, youth basketball coordinator at the Santa Monica YMCA, editor and publisher of Swish
