Live Like Braun

Tennis Event Celebrates Palisadian’s Life on His Birthday

By STEVE GALLUZZO | Sports Editor

There was nothing Braun Levi enjoyed more than playing tennis, so on August 9—what would have been his 19th birthday—more than 300 people showed up at the Peninsula Racquet Center in Palos Verdes for the inaugural Live Like Braun Tennis Tournament, a fitting tribute to an inspiring young man whose life was taken too soon.

Levi was a senior about to graduate from Loyola High School when he was killed May 4 by an alleged drunk driver in Manhattan Beach. The captain of the Cubs’ tennis team, he was set to attend the University of Virginia. He and his family were living in the South Bay after having lost their Bienveneda home in the Palisades Fire.

“We created the Live Like Braun Foundation to keep this incredible legacy alive by inspiring others to live like he did,” his mom Jennifer said before over 140 players took the courts for five hours of Live Ball doubles competition. “We’re committed to lifting up all you young people and helping you pursue your academic dreams, just like Braun would’ve wanted. So today as we serve, slice and maybe whiff a few balls we’re doing it with purpose, we’re doing it with love and we’re doing it in the spirit of someone who made this world a better place, one match at a time.”      

Tennis Hall of Famer Pam Shriver was there and encouraged everyone to “keep playing tennis and keep honoring Braun.” Among those participating were Braun’s dad Dan, Loyola tennis coach Brian Held and several of his teammates, including his doubles partner and fellow Palisadian Cooper Schwartz.

“I’m seeing people I hadn’t seen since I was 8… it’s a beautiful mix of everyone who knew Braun,” said Schwartz, who paired up with Nick Rogers, his previous doubles partner at Loyola. “Braun and I were closer off the court than on. I lived with his family for a week after the fires. He was in the room across from me and every night I slept in his room.”

Several Palisades High tennis alums were in the draw, Among them was Jex Frankel, who paired up with his dad Shepherd.   

“Braun was one of my good friends growing up… we were on the Pali Waves at the PTC when we were 10 years old,” said Frankel, now a junior on the men’s team at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. “I was at school when my parents called me the morning he died. It was devastating news.”

Ben Tom graduated from Pali High in 2006 and became an instructor at the Palisades Tennis Center five years later. He remembers a certain 5-year-old kid with blond hair who was not always eager to play.

“I started coaching Braun when he was a little tike,” Tom recalled. “He had an awesome attitude and he’d listen up. Sometimes if he wasn’t in the mood me and Jen would have to tag team and promise him Scooby Snacks or M&Ms so he wouldn’t run off.”    

Lucas Bellamy, who played at Pali High and then UCLA, considered Braun his younger brother: “I knew him for 10 years. Jen and Dan are like second parents and they’ve done a great job. Every year August 9 is on my calendar.”    

Former Pali High player Alex Giannini and his partner reached the final round, but ultimately prevailing 10-6 in a tiebreaker were 17-year-old Andrew Sweeney, a teammate of Braun’s at Loyola, and pro tour player Miles Jones. “It was fun,” Sweeney said. “This is the best format they could’ve chosen.”   

To learn more about the foundation or to make a donation visit livelikebraunfoundation.org or on Instagram at @livelikebraunfoundation.

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