Natalie Bustamante Class: Senior Hometown: Bakersfield, CA High School: Garces Memorial Height: 5-9 Event: Epee Birthdate: 07/14/1983

Part of a veteran women's epee unit that includes three other seniors, a junior and a sophomore ... high school tennis and basketball player who picked up fencing at Notre Dame ... third-year member of Irish program who has developed into a regular contributor ... has the talent to fence with top opponents, as evidenced by `04 win over Ohio State's Alexandra Shklar ... compiled 40-19 record in first two seasons with the Irish ... team-oriented fencer who has shown excellent attitude in training ... studied in Spain during 2003 fall semester ... currently serves as co-president of Breen-Phillips Hall.

WITH THE IRISH: Her 20-14 record as a junior in 2004 included 8-4 at NYU Duals, 8-8 at ND Duals and 4-2 at West-vs.-Central Duals (held at Purdue) ... won back-and-forth bout with OSU's Shklar at ND Duals (5-4), giving Irish 7-3 lead en route to 14-13 win ... logged 20-5 record as sophomore in '03 (6-0 at OSU Duals, 4-3 at ND Duals, 7-2 at MSU Duals).

Notre Dame's 2005 women's epee squad includes (kneeling, from left) Anna Rodriguez and Amy Orlando; (standing, from left) Jocelyn Landgraf, Rebecca Chimahusky, Natalie Bustamante and Kerry Walton.

PREP & PERSONAL: Two-sport athlete at Garces Memorial High School ... earned four varsity letters in tennis, winning four conference and two regional titles ... two-year tennis captain ... lettered as guard on basketball team in junior and senior seasons ... a National Hispanic Scholar finalist ... hails from same home area as fellow ND student-athletes Tricia Freshwater and Matthew Antongiovanni ... daughter of Javier and Laurie Bustamante ... full name is Natalie Suzanne Bustamante ... born July 14, 1983, in Sacramento, Calif. ... a Spanish major in the College of Arts and Letters.