April 9, 2003

ALL-CIF SOUTHERN SECTION TEAMS GIRLS' WATER POLO
Karimian leads area All-CIF nods
Water polo: Glendale senior joined by CV's Little and Sheridan on Division III roster
By Edgar Melik-Stepanyan, News-Press
GLENDALE -- Teni Karimian couldn't have asked for more.
First came the Pacific League championship. Then she was bestowed with the honor as the league's co-most valuable player. And to top it off, the Glendale High girls' water polo player found herself in elite company when the All-CIF Southern Section Division III selections were announced. Karimian became just the third Nitro to be chosen on the All-CIF roster when she earned a second-team nod. Glendale's Allison Speer (1998) and Megan Scott (2000) were also All-CIF honorees. "I feel very privileged," Karimian said. "Every part of this year was amazing." She wasn't the only local player selected. Seniors D.D. Little and Lauren Sheridan of Crescenta Valley received third-team nods.
Karimian, a hole/guard, registered 123 steals and 23 goals in her senior campaign. The Nitros tied a program record for wins in a season (21) and defeated CV, 7-6, in double overtime to win their first league championship since 2000. Glendale (21-9, 6-1 in league) lost to Covina Charter Oak, 8-2, in the first round of the playoffs.
Little was one of the best defenders in the region. She was an all-league first-team pick and recorded 40 goals, 12 assists and 88 steals, including a career-high 12 in the Falcons' 9-6 first-round playoff loss to Chino Hills Ayala. Sheridan led her team in scoring with 71 goals and 15 assists. She also contributed 56 steals, as she made a name for herself in her final year on the varsity level. She was also an all-league first-team selection. "This honor means a lot," Sheridan said. "Last year, I saw [my teammates] succeeding and I had hoped that for myself. It means a lot to be honored because it accomplished a goal of mine." Temple City's Ivone Garcia and La Verne Bonita's Melissa Reck were the co-players of the year.