Pepperdine University Athletics

2024: Appeared in all 29 games for the Waves ... Totaled six goals and 17 assists with 18 steals ... Contributed two assists in win over Westcliff (Sept. 7) ... Logged a goal and assist in victory against CSU Fullerton (Sept. 21) ... Recorded three assists in victory over No. 18 Santa Clara (Nov. 1) ... Tabbed a goal and assist in win over No. 13 San Jose State (Nov. 9).

2023: Did not play water polo this season and utilized a redshirt year … WCC Commissioner’s Honor Roll ‘Bronze’ honors … A Pepperdine Scholar-Athlete.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Graduated from Orange Lutheran High School, located in Orange, Calif., in 2023 … Also attended Greenhill School in Addison, Texas his first two years … Played two years of varsity water polo … Made the CIF Division I First Team as a senior … Won a Division 1 CIF championship in 2022 … Broke four long-standing swim team relay records at Greenhill … Earned a Trinity League Scholar Athlete as a junior … Earned a Trinity All-League Water Polo Player, 1st Team Selection as a senior.
 
CLUB: Competed for Vanguard Aquatics and Pegasus Water Polo Academy ... Played club with SoCal… Earned a fifth-place finish at the Junior Olympics championship in 2022.
 
PERSONAL: Born in Kursk, Russia ... Son of Leslie and David Benners ... Has one sibling: Griffin ... Majoring in Sports Medicine … Chose to attend Pepperdine because of “the strong water polo program and academics. I am very excited to be a part of the school and I really like the family feel.”
 
FAVORITES: Enjoys hanging out with friends, biking and hiking ... Favorites include Tom Brady (pro athlete), New England Patriots (pro team), American Sniper (book), Top Gun 2 (movie), Breaking Bad (TV show), The Beatles (musical artist), steak (food) and football (sport other than water polo) ... Favorite thing about water polo is “the team camaraderie.”