In an event traditionally dominated by Olympians and US National team members, Stephanie Aiuto, currently a junior at Great Neck North High School, won the sixth place medal at the Division 1 Women's Sabre competition in Tucson, AZ.__

"It was amazing, I was up on the podium with Sada (Jacobson - 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist), Daria (Schneider - 2007 NCAA National Champion), Caroline (Vloka - 2006 & 2007 National Cadet and Junior National Team member), and all the others - it was the best result I could possibly have hoped for," Steph admitted in amazement after receiving her medal from former gold medalist Olympic coach Vladimir Nazlymov.__

Stephanie's sixth-place finish in Division1 earned her an "A07" rating - the highest allotted, and places her 24th in the Senior Women's Sabre national standings as well as 15th in the Junior Women's Sabre national standings. She is currently ranked 39th in the world for Junior Woman's Sabre after having won a bronze medal at the Junior World Cup Competition in Montreal, Canada.__How does she balance her intense fencing training at the Fencers Club in NYC with her heavy load of school work from her multiple AP courses and her All-State viola lessons and practice sessions? "I don't sleep...much," Aiuto admitted, "I would like to sleep. I can't wait until this summer. I'm going to take Driver's Ed, learn to play the guitar, fence, and sleep!"