Best friend star players raise the Monarchs above sea level

Brina Brati and Armine Zelveyan, freshmen on the women's water polo team, anchor the Valley defense and offense.

By: Gabriela Martinez, Staff Writer

Armine Zelveyan (left) posing alongside fellow teammate and best friend Brina Brati. (Alejandro Garcia for the Valley Star)

Best friends and star players Brina Brati and Armine Zelveyan made a splash in their freshman year, leading the Monarchs through a historic season in women's water polo.

Brati has accumulated 95 points across 22 games, demonstrating impressive ball control with 27 steals compared to 24 turnovers, maintaining a 45.9 percent overall shooting percentage. Across the season, she has 61 goals and 34 assists.

“I've been working really hard to try to strive for accuracy when I shoot or restraint,” says Brati. “It feels nice that on stats it shows my goals because it shows the hard work I've been putting in is paying off.” 

The 18-year-old began swimming when she was five years old after her parents' strong encouragement. However, It wasn’t until her freshman year of high school that Brati dived into the world of water polo, trying out for her school's team. She was strongly inspired by her older sister, who was the senior captain of her own water polo team at Glendale High School.

Brati describes significant barriers faced throughout her career in the water including a shoulder injury in high school. This injury resulted in issues with her rotator cuff and labrum, which both play critical roles in the shoulder-heavy sport. 

In order to play efficiently she completes her therapeutic exercises and relies on support from her coaches at Valley.

As a kinesiology major, Brati is working toward a career in physical therapy while still managing weekly team training, a balancing act familiar to many student athletes. 

“I feel like water polo has really taught me that I need to not only be strong physically, but mentally,” she said. “I really just want to be remembered as a kind player that maybe future generations or younger players on my team can look up to.”

Valley’s girls water polo team currently holds a strong 17-6 overall record. At conference, their record of  4-3 shows a slightly tougher competition level within their league.

At the other end of the pool is 18-year-old Armine Zelveyan. She has accumulated 75 points and 60 goals across 21 games. Zelveyan currently holds a 54.5 percent overall shooting percentage. 

“I think my biggest personal accomplishment is probably just coming and playing in college because I've only played water polo for three years in high school,” says Zelveyan. 

Zelveyan began playing water polo after trying out for the team with her friend during her sophomore year of high school. 

“We actually ended up really liking it, so I just joined the team,” she said. 

Just one year later, Zelveyan underwent nose surgery which resulted in doctors warning her that she would be unable to continue playing water polo. However, in her season, she fought to stay afloat, refusing to throw her sport overboard. 

 “I would wear a nose guard and play all during games,” she said. “I just pushed through.”

Today, the freshman maintains a busy routine, training with her team throughout the week, working as a lifeguard at the Glendale Pacific Pool, and taking classes as a psychology major. 

“We're kind of making history here because the women's water polo team hasn't had a winning streak like this in a while. I just hope we'll be placed, and leave an impact for future players.”