Madeleine Stephan Class: Freshman Hometown: Tauberbischofsheim, Germany High School: Matthias Gruenewald Gymnasium Height: 5-6 Event: Epee Birthdate: 12/17/1985

Spirited fighter who has joined the Notre Dame women's epee squad along with fellow freshman Kim Montoya ... an athletic fencer who brings a well-organized approach to the strip ... follows All-America men's epeeist Christian Scherpe (`86; Krefield) and recent foilist Johannes Masserer (`05; Frankenhardt) as third German fencer to join the Notre Dame program ... looking to make the transition to college fencing while also adjusting to life at an American university ... has trained with Ruth Osyczka (formerly a national coach with Poland) at the elite T.B.B. Olympic Center, a 64-strip facility near Frankfurt that is considered the world's premier fencing center ... placed 10th at the Penn State Open in the fall of 2005, losing in the round-of-16 to Ohio State newcomer Alexandra Obrazcova ... other German natives to star for Notre Dame teams have included three members of the Irish men's soccer program: midfielders Chris Mathis (`93-'96; Kaisersautern) and Andreas Forstner (`99-'02; Gerlinden) and all-BIG EAST forward Erich Braun (`99-'02; Frankfurt).

PREP & PERSONAL: Attended high school at the Matthias Gruenewald Gymnasium while training at the prestigious T.B.B. Olympic Center ... placed 21st at the 2002 Cadet World Championships, after finishing third in the `02 German Cadet Championships (under-17) ... also placed third in the 2001 German Junior Championships (u-19) ... member of the National Honor Society ... daughter of Mario and Birgit Stephan ... born Dec. 17, 1985, in Pirna, Germany ... enrolled in the First Year of Studies.