Seniors
Lev BenAvram of
Bethesda, Maryland, and
Ragini Kannan of
Westford, Massachusetts, members of the men’s fencing and softball teams, have been named the Brandeis University Athletes of the Week for the week ending March 8. The Brandeis Athlete of the Week program is presented by The Chateau Restaurant and Jake n JOES Sports Grille.
BenAvram placed seventh in the saber at the NCAA Northeast Regional Fencing tournament at Vassar College, booking a trip to the NCAA National Collegiate Championships in the process. A four-time NCAA qualifier and second-team All-Division All-American last season as a junior, BenAvram entered the regionals as the seventh seed. He posted a 4-2 record in the opening round with wins over Columbia, Boston College, Vassar, and Sacred Heart to earn the fifth seed headed into the semifinals. In the semis, BenAvram went 5-1, defeating foes from Columbia, NYU, St. John's, Long Island University and BC, to claim the fifth seed in the finals. In the final 12, BenAvram went 5-6, with three of his six losses coming by a 5-4 score. His wins in the finals came against two opponents from Columbia, and one each from St. John's, NYU and Harvard, earning him a seventh-place finish. BenAvram became the first Brandeis men's fencer to qualify for four NCAA Championships since 2009 and just the fourth male in program history to accomplish the feat.
BenAvram will represent the Judges as one only four Division III fencers at the 2026 NCAA National Collegiate Championships at the University Notre Dame from March 19-22.
Kannan was nearly untouchable for the Judges in the circle during a trip to Clermont, Florida, to compete in THE Spring Games. In three contests - two starts and a relief appearance - she went 3-0 with just one earned run and 22 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched. Kannan allowed just three hits on the trip, all coming in one inning. She finished with a 0.39 ERA and an .056 opponent’s batting average in the three contests.
Kannan opened the trip with a five-inning no-hitter against Emmanuel College. She struck out four and walked one to face just one batter over the minimum in the Judges’ 14-0 victory. The no-hitter was the first of Kannan’s career and the second by a Judges’ pitcher in as many seasons. She extended her hitless streak to 14 innings with a six-inning relief appearance against Allegheny in an 8-3 Brandeis extra-inning win and in an 8-1 win over St. Joseph’s (Maine). She struck out a career-high 14 batters against St. Joe’s as she earned her 30th career win.
Kannan and the Judges started their season with 5-1 record. They return to action with their first New England contests against Wentworth and Simmons this weekend on the road.
This is the tenth year that the Brandeis Athlete of the Week program has been presented by The Chateau Restaurant Group. The Athlete of the Year Program highlights top Brandeis student-athletes who have had an outstanding athletic achievement in the week prior. Each selected student-athlete will be featured on the Brandeis athletics homepage and inside the Chateau Waltham and Jake n JOES.
Owned and operated by the Nocera Family, the Chateau Restaurant of Waltham opened in 1933 and set the standard for providing the tradition of Italian family dining, friendly service, and quality food at reasonable prices for its customers. Located on 195 School Street, with 900 seats, the Chateau is always ready to accommodate large parties.
The Nocera Family consists of 6 brothers who have always had a passion for playing sports. In 2010, the Nocera Family launched a new concept, Jake n JOES Sports Grille. Jake n JOES Waltham opened in 2014 and is the best place to watch a game and enjoy quality food.
"Brandeis student-athletes are fantastic role models in our community,” says Chateau President Joe Nocera, “They exemplify the ideals of excellence and commitment both on and off the playing field. The Chateau Waltham and Jake n JOES Waltham are proud to partner with Brandeis Athletics to continue to enhance a positive focus within the Waltham Community."
BenAvram is a 2022 graduate of Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. For more information on Brandeis men’s fencing, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/mfence.
Kannan is a 2022 graduate of Westford Academy. For more information on Brandeis softball, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/softball.
For more information on Brandeis athletics, visit our web page at www.brandeisjudges.com or follow us on social media on X, Instagram, and Facebook @BrandeisJudges.
