BenAvram named D3 Saber Fencer of the Year, leading six honored by USFCA

WALTHAM, Mass. – The Brandeis University fencing team placed five members on the United States Fencing Coaches Association All-America team, including two major award winners.

Leading the way was senior

Lev BenAvram of

Bethesda, Maryland, who was named the USFCA Division III Men's Saber Fencer of the Year for the second year in a row. BenAvram, a four-time Division III All-American in men's saber is also a two-time All-Division All-American. This year, he finished fifth at the NCAA National Collegiate Fencing Championships, the highest finish by a Brandeis men's fencer since

Tim Morehouse '00 in 2000.

Also earning national honors was assistant coach

Matthew Zich, who was named the Division III Men's Assistant Coach of the Year for the second year in a row. It marks the fourth-straight year that Zich has been honored by the USFCA, as he also earned Division III women's assistant coach of the year in 2023 and 2024. Zich, who coaches Brandeis's saber fencers, has coached at least one All-Division All-American in each of the past four years, guiding Brandeis fencers to top-eight finishes each time.

Others receiving USFCA Division III All-America honors included junior saber fencer

Matthew Chaves of

Durham, North Carolina, who was a second team honoree in saber for the second year in row. Chaves finished 21

st at the NCAA Northeast Regional this year after entering the meet as the 30

th seed. He posted a 34-28 record in dual meets, leading the saber squad in victories.

First-year

David Knizhnik of

Bethesda, Maryland, was a first-team selection in foil. Knizhnik led all Brandeis fencers with 56 wins this season. The 11

th seeded at the NCAA Regionals, he finished 10th and was the first alternate to the NCAA Championships in men's foil.

Junior

Jackson Sullivan of

Somerville, Mass., was an honorable mention selection from the foil squad. He went 33-31, second-best on the squad, and placed 19

th at the NCAA Regional as the 24

th seed.

Senior

Kat Xikes of

Chatham, New Jersey, earned honorable mention honors as a saber fencer for the second time in her career, having been named to the second team as a first-year. Xikes posted the best record on the women's team this year, going 57-34. She finished 26th at the regional championships.