INDIANAPOLIS - Benedetta Pepe Pugliese became the first athlete in the history of the UNC Pembroke swimming program to earn back-to-back trips to the NCAA Divison II Swimming & Diving Championships on Friday with the release of the field for the championship set to begin on March 11-15 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
 
Pepe Pugliese is the fifth UNC Pembroke swimming student-athlete to secure a spot on the sport's biggest stage. The sophomore became the program's first all-American last season in the 400-yard Individual Medley. 

A native of Avellino, Italy, Pepe Pugliese took top honors at the Conference Carolinas Championship in the 200-yard Breaststroke and 400-yard Individual Medley. The sophomore enters the championship ranked 20th in the 200-yard Breaststroke and 21st in the 400-yard Individual Medley.
 
The prelims of the 400-yard Individual Medley will be on March 13 and the 200-yard Breaststroke prelims will be held on March 15.