SALISBURY – The 26th-ranked UNC Pembroke swimming team was back in action for the first time in the new year on Friday and won four events to highlight action at the Catawba Tri-Meet at the Johnson Pool. 

The Braves upset No. 6 Wingate 137-124, but fell to No. 22 Catawba 172-89. 

Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos claimed a pair of individual titles on Friday winning the 200-yard Freestyle and the 100-yard Breaststroke. Rodriguez Matos logged a time of 1:55.29 in the 200-yard Freestyle and posted a time of 1:05.69 in the 100-yard Breaststroke to beat the field. The senior swam a leg on the 200-yard Freestyle Relay team that claimed a runner-up finish. Newcomer Benedetta Pepe Pugliese also won a pair of events winning the 200-yard Individual Medley as well as the 200-yard Breaststroke. 

Britta Schwengle took home a pair of second place finishes, while Fatima Portilo finished second in the 200-yard Butterfly. 

The Braves will be back in action on Jan. 27 when they travel to Asheville to battle UNC Asheville. The meet will take place at the Justice Center Pool. 
 

CATAWBA TRI-MEET VS. #22 CATAWBA, #6 WINGATE (JANUARY 5, 2024)
200 Yard Medley Relay
4	UNC Pembroke 'A' - Chiara Ambrosi, Benedetta Pepe Pugliese, Rachel Carapella, Sofia Pereira	1:52.34
1000 Yard Freestyle
2	Britta Schwengle	10:32.91
5	Fatima Portillo	10:55.06
200 Yard Freestyle
1	Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos	1:55.29
7	Chiara Ambrosi	1:58.50
10	Sofia Pereira	2:02.05
Exh.	Tamra Tipton	2:07.68
100 Yard Backstroke
7	Rachel Carapella	1:03.51
8	Natalia Sarmiento	1:09.08
100 Yard Breaststroke
1	Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos	1:05.69
4	Benedetta Pepe Pugliese	1:07.22
9	Maddie Ray	1:13.34
200 Yard Butterfly
2	Fatima Portilo	2:11.17
3	Gabby Hyson	2:11.39
50 Yard Freestyle
6	Rhyan Murphy	25.58
7	Gabby Hyson	25.94
10	Rachel Carapella	26.27
Exh.	Luisa Rios	26.80
100 Yard Freestyle
6	Rhyan Murphy	55.48
9	Tamra Tipton	58.56
10	Luisa Rios	59.83
Exh.	Maddie Ray	1:00.62
Exh.	Sofia Pereira	56.09
200 Yard Backstroke
4	Britta Schwengle	2:09.49
7	Chiara Ambrosi	2:12.41
9	Natalia Sarmiento	2:29.71
200 Yard Breaststroke
1	Benedetta Pepe Pugliese	2:20.92
2	Ketlyn Rodriguez Matos	2:23.33
9	Maddie Ray	2:42.47
500 Yard Freestyle
2	Britta Schwengle	5:10.84
4	Sofia Pereira	5:16.25
7	Fatima Portilo	5:24.49
100 Yard Butterfly
3	Gabby Hyson	59.16
6	Rachel Carapella	1:00.81
9	Tamra Tipton	1:03.47
200 Yard Individual Medley
1	Benedetta Pepe Pugliese	2:08.39
4	Chiara Ambrosi	2:12.39
11	Natalia Sarmiento	2:26.97
200 Yard Freestyle Relay
2	UNC Pembroke 'A' - Britta Schwengle, Rhyan Murphy, Gabby Hyson, Ketyln Rodriguez Matos	1:38.69