WALTHAM, Mass. – Junior women’s saber fencer
Kat Xikes of
Chatham, New Jersey, and graduate men’s tennis player
Dylan Walters of
Baltimore, Maryland, have been named the Brandeis University Athletes of the Week for the week ending February 2. The Brandeis Athlete of the Week program is presented by The Chateau Restaurant and Jake N Joes Bar and Grill.
Xikes, helped the Brandeis women’s fencing team go 4-1 at the Eric Sollee Invitational on Sunday. Brandeis defeated New Jersey Institute of Technology, 17-10; Hunter College, 24-3; Yeshiva University, 24-3; Stevens Institute of Technology, 18-9; and lost to NYU, 22-5. Xikes went 13-2 on the day, winning all three of her bouts in the team’s victories and going 1-2 against NYU. Overall this season, Xikes leads Brandeis with 62 wins.
Brandeis returns to action this weekend when they travel to North Carolina for the Beguinet Classic at Duke University on Saturday afternoon.
Walters was also named the University Athletic Association Men’s Tennis Player of the Week this week. In the team’s season opener, a 5-2 loss at Division I Bryant University, Walters was a double-winner. He teamed with first-year player Daniel Shemesh for a 7-5 victory at #1 doubles. In singles action, he picked up one of two Brandeis three-set wins at #1. Walters outlasted the Bulldogs’ top player, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-5.
It was Walters’ third career UAA Weekly honor. In 2024, he was named a first-team All-UAA selection at 1st singles, and also earned second-team at #3/4 in 2022. Walters also became the Judges’ seventh All-American in Brandeis history last year after winning a first-round match at the NCAA Division III singles tournament.
The Judges return to action on Sunday, February 16th when they kick off their annual February Break trip to California against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, the #2 team in Division III.
This is the ninth year that the Brandeis Athlete of the Week program has been presented by The Chateau Restaurant Group. The Athlete of the Year Program highlights a top Brandeis student-athlete who has had an outstanding athletic achievement from 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."
Xikes is a 2022 graduate of Chatham High School. For more information on Brandeis women’s fencing, visit their web page at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/wfence.
Walters is a 2020 graduate of The Gilman School. For more information on Brandeis men’s tennis, please visit our homepage at
https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/mten.
For more information on Brandeis athletics, visit our web page at
www.brandeisjudges.com or follow us on Instagram and Facebook @BrandeisJudges.
