Junior
Henry Aronwald of
Rye Brook, New York, and first-year
Milana Sofizade of
Sarasota, Florida, members of the baseball and softball teams, have been named the Brandeis University Athletes of the Week for the week ending April 12. The Brandeis Athlete of the Week program is presented by The Chateau Restaurant and Jake n JOES Sports Grille.
Aronwald, who was also named the University Athletic Association Hitter of the Week, helped the Judges to a 4-1 week last week, including a series win against UAA rivals NYU. He hit .500 (9-18) with a .545 on-base percentage (3 BB, 0 HBP) and .778 slugging percentage (2 2B, 1 HR). He hit safely in all five games, with a run scored and an RBI in four of the five contests.
Aronwald was 2-5 with a double and 3 RBI in an 11-1 non-conference win against Amherst; 2-2 with three walks, three runs scored, three RBI, a double and a home run in the opener against NYU (W, 10-4); 1-3 with a run scored in Game 2 (L, 5-17); 1-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Game 3 (W, 27-3); and, most importantly, accounted for half of the teams RBI in the 10-9 series finale, going 3-4 with a career-high five runs driven in, including the game-winning two-run single in the eighth inning. The win secured Brandeis's first UAA series win since 2022.
Overall this season, Aronwald is third on the Judges in batting average, hitting .354, and with 29 RBI. He has 22 runs scored, five doubles, a triple, and is tied for the team lead with three home runs. The Judges meet Wheaton College in a non-conference game on Wednesday afternoon before hosting Washington University for another four-game UAA series this weekend.
Sofizade helped the Judges win a pair of contests over the weekend, defeating Skidmore College and the University of Rochester by 6-1 scores. She dropped only three games all weekend at #2 doubles and #5 singles. She teams with senior Nancy Zhang for a 6-1 win in doubles against Skidmore and won 6-2, 6-0 in singles action. Against UR, Sofizade did not drop a game, going 6-0 in doubles and 6-0, 6-0, in singles action. She evened her overall singles record 9-9 this season, including 7-5 in dual matches.
The Judges meet Endicott College on Wednesday afternoon before closing their regular season at NYU on Saturday.
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."
Aronwald is a 2023 graduate of Trinity Pawling School. For more information on Brandeis baseball, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/baseball.
Sofizade is a 2025 graduate of IMG Academy. For more information on Brandeis women’s tennis, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/womens-tennis.
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.
