Syosset sophomore Maya Funatomi tossed her fencing mask aside, her eyes watering as her friends and teammates surrounded her.

She didn’t need consoling. She might’ve needed a pinch, though, to prove she was indeed living up in a world where she was the newest girls epee champion at the Brentwood Holiday Tournament Saturday.

“I finally got here,” Funatomi said. “This is my first time making the top eight, so this is big for me. All this hard work has finally paid off.”

Over 300 boys and girls fencers participated at Brentwood High School across the three weapon disciplines. Funatomi left pool play as the eighth seed, the lowest of all six champions. She traded eight touches with Great Neck South’s Ashley Nguyen before winning 15-14, a spectacular bout.

“I can’t believe I won gold,” Funa

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