PEMBROKE – The UNC Pembroke swimming team climbed to the top of the podium in all 14 of the meet's events, including a facility record performance from newcomer Benedetta Pepe Pugliese to fuel a season-opening victory over Salem on Saturday afternoon at the Sue Walsh Swimming Pool.
 
UNCP (1-0) improved to 10-0 all-time in their home natatorium after posting a 216-17 win over the Spirits (0-1). 
 
Pepe Pugliese finished atop the field in the 200-yard Freestyle, 200-yard Medley and in the 200-yard Breaststroke while breaking teammate Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos' facility record in the 200-yard Breastroke. Britta Schwengle, bested the rest of the field in the 200-yard Backstroke, as well as the 500- and 1000-yard Freestyle disciplines. 
 
Rodriguez Matos, stood at the top of the podium for the 100-yard Breaststroke and and the 100-yard Freestyle, while newcomer Katie Raleigh bested the field in the 100-and 200-yard Butterfly events.
 
The Black & Gold will return to action on Saturday for the King Invitational. The two-day meet will be held at the Kingsport Aquatics Center in Bristol, Tenn. 
 

VS. SALEM (SEPTEMBER 23, 2023)
200 Yard Medley Relay
1	UNC Pembroke 'A' - Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos, Benedetta Pepe Pugliese, Katie Raleigh, Rhyan Murphy	1:51.41
2	UNC Pembroke 'B' - Tamra Tipton, Maddie Ray, Gabby Hyson, Makayla Dolan	1:56.41
Exh.	UNC Pembroke 'C' - Kaylie Neighbors, Ella Humbert, Rachel Carapella, Luisa Rios	1:57.77
1000 Yard Freestyle
1	Britta Schwengle	10:35.61
2	Natalia Sarmiento	11:52.42
Exh.	Gretchen Gillenwater	12:21.53
Exh.	Sara Ormsby	13:59.44
200 Yard Freestyle
1	Benedetta Pepe Pugliese	1:58.46
2	Lilly Yancey	2:07.22
3	Rhyan Murphy	2:08.29
Exh.	Ella Humbert	2:12.10
Exh.	Luisa Rios	2:12.45
Exh.	Makayla Dolan	2:16.83
100 Yard Backstroke
1	Kaylie Neighbors	1:04.10
2	Tamra Tipton	1:04.31
3	Rachel Carapella	1:04.63
Exh.	Audrey Jacobs	1:07.81
Exh.	Sara Ormsby	1:18.24
100 Yard Breaststroke
1	Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos	1:05.98
2	Maddie Ray	1:11.93
3	Kaeleigh Cupples	1:14.71
Exh.	Ella Humbert	1:16.10
Exh.	Gretchen Gillenwater	1:25.52
200 Yard Butterfly
1	Katie Raleigh	2:09.49
2	Rachel Carapella	2:31.48
50 Yard Freestyle
1	Rhyan Murphy	25.60
2	Gabby Hyson	25.84
3	Kaylie Neighbors	26.81
Exh.	Luisa Rios	27.25
Exh.	Kaeleigh Cupples	27.33
Exh.	Makayla Dolan	28.04
100 Yard Freestyle
1	Ketlyn Rodrigues Matos	54.00
2	Katie Raleigh	55.92
3	Gabby Hyson	56.68
Exh.	Rhyan Murphy	56.69
Exh.	Kaeleigh Cupples	59.44
Exh.	Luisa Rios	1:00.82
Exh.	Makayla Dolan	1:02.20
200 Yard Backstroke
1	Britta Schwengle	2:11.95
2	Tamra Tipton	2:23.74
3	Lilly Yancey	2:28.19
Exh.	Audrey Jacobs	2:31.30
200 Yard Breaststroke
1	Benedetta Pepe Pugliese	^2:22.53
2	Maddie Ray	2:40.70
3	Ella Humbert	2:43.39
500 Yard Freestyle
1	Britta Schwengle	5:11.49
2	Lilly Yancey	5:43.06
3	Natalia Sarmiento	5:45.17
Exh.	Gretchen Gillenwater	6:05.55
Exh.	Sara Ormsby	6:48.09
100 Yard Butterfly
1	Katie Raleigh	58.86
2	Gabby Hyson	1:01.11
3	Rachel Carapella	1:01.70
Exh.	Audrey Jacobs	1:07.56
200 Yard Individual Medley
1	Benedetta Pepe Pugliese	2:09.70
2	Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos	2:14.64
3	Tamra Tipton	2:19.26
Exh.	Natalia Sarmiento	2:24.32
Exh.	Kaylie Neighbors	2:25.58
Exh.	Maddie Ray	2:29.00
200 Yard Freestyle Relay
1	UNC Pembroke 'A' - Britta Schwengle, Gabby Hyson, Rhyan Murphy, Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos	1:41.87
2	UNC Pembroke 'B' - Benedetta Pepe Pugliese, Tamra Tipton, Katie Raleigh, Natalia Sarmiento	1:47.31
Exh.	UNC Pembroke 'C' - Audrey Jacobs, Makayla Dolan, Ella Humbert, Rachel Carapella	1:50.02
^ - Sue Walsh Swimming Pool Facility Record