Grickore Danelyan added his name to the prestigious list of Hoover High wrestlers who won a league champion when he took the 170-pound Rio Hondo League title on Thursday at Monrovia High.

Danelyan had a bye in the first round and then won his second match to set up the league-title dual, when he became the first Tornado to win a league title in wrestling since 2017.

He said that the efforts he put into training, his faith in himself, and support from his coach were some factors that led him to be victorious.

“Every day when you go to practice, yeah there’s some days where it’s an off day and you don’t want to practice, you don’t feel like it,” he said. “But you always have to put in as much effort as you can. If you want it more than anybody else you’ll get it.”

Hoover’s Allen Melikyan captured a league championship in the 160-pound class and Azad Markosian won the heavyweight crown before advancing to the Masters Meet in 2017. Markosian went 2-2 at the Masters Meet at Temecula Valley High in Riverside County.

A year prior, in 2016, Hoover’s Edmen Shahbazyan, now a rising star in the UFC, advanced to the Masters Meet and the state.

Danelyan mentioned that conditioning was a big part of his success.

“Nobody wants to condition but you have to be ready and in shape,” he said.

Hoover wrestling Coach Mazhan Isaeian said he admires Danelyan’s energy, love, and joy for the sport, which were vital characteristics that pushed Danelyan to the championship.

“This kid sometimes goes and swims in the pool and then comes to practice wanting it more than anyone else,” Isaeian said. “He focuses and listens to me and what I’m saying. Big time he wants it more than anyone else.

“Some people say no pressure but no there is a pressure on you because you have to represent the whole school. And I’m pretty sure he’s going to do his utmost best to bring it home.”