Quest continues: Pam Pack wrestling aiming for greatness again this season

Published 3:07 am Friday, January 3, 2025

By Jason O. Boyd

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When it comes to Washington High School’s wrestling program, some things never change.

Oh sure, the names and faces do. New wrestlers come in all the time in large part because of a successful feeder program from P.S. Jones Middle School. But success breeds success and those good at the sport stick around for more than one season.

Wrestlers like Sam Botles, Gabe Foreman and many others on the squad now have come through that middle school system and are standouts again this season for the Pam Pack. Boltes, wrestling at 106 pounds, won both his matches on Thursday by forfeit. Foreman picked up his 100th and 101st career wins as the Pam Pack beat First Flight, 39-36, and Eastern Plains Conference foe West Craven, 61-15.

“We’ve got a great group of kids,” Washington coach Chris Penhollow said. “It’s just who’s going to show up and who’s going to make weight, who’s going to miss weight, who’s not going to get pinned, who’s going to get pinned.

“I mean, there’s just so many variables. But we like where we’re at. Getting back from the break is always a little tough because we have kids, you know, travel with family or fighting the flu and cold.

“So I think once we have everybody in place, it will be a tough out.”

Under Penhollow, now in his 11th season as head coach, and some talented assistant coaches, the Pam Pack are looking for their 11th straight Eastern Plains Conference title. Washington made it to the Class 2A East final last season before falling to Seaforth, which is loaded again and, according to Penhollow, will be the Pam Pack’s top obstacle to a trip to the state finals.

The team has been facing some of the top competition to prepare for the postseason. It has been to Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Raleigh and the Outer Banks for multi-team and individual events. It’s all in the quest to prepare the wrestlers for what lies ahead.

“The team’s been doing pretty good,” Boltes said. “I think we are 10-1 in duels, and then I am 30-5. I’ve won one big tournament near the Charlotte area.

“Yeah, our team’s looking pretty good. I hope we can make a run this season for the state championship.”

Washington got the narrow win over First Flight thanks to a decision, three forfeits and three pins. It was easier against West Craven as the Pack won with seven forfeits along with pins by Foreman, Tucker Massie (132 pounds) and Trenton Baldree (190 pounds) along with wins by decision by David B-Meza (138) and Jace Plunkett (144) and a major decision win by Cooper Johnson (285).

Foreman had to work to get that 100th win, battling with First Flight’s Jayden Spence before getting a pin at 3:14.

“We focus on what our coach calls a toolbox, and we really just work those moves and push forward,” Foreman said. “I think that’s the key to just developing all our guys, and we’re like a close group.

“We all can lift each other up and push each other forward. That’s another key component in pushing us to potentially win a state title.”

Having a team that knows each other so well and has been together for so long creates a bond. It’s that experience and togetherness that Boltes hopes will get them over the hump and into the state championship as a team. Meanwhile, he and the others will continue to work to take home individual titles, too.

“I think one of my big goals this season is to be a regional champion, qualify for state, and then hopefully compete for a state title,” Boltes said. “Some of the things I need to work on is just, you know, getting off bottom and just kind of wrestling through positions and stuff.

“I believe in our team. I think we’re going to do big things this season. I hope if we keep working hard to reach those goals, I think we’ll be fine.”

Washington High School (WHS) 39.0 First Flight High School (FFHS) 36.0
190: Lucas Sumners (FFHS) over Marek Bates (WHS) (Fall 0:00) 215: Brian Salinas (WHS) over John Garay Martinez (FFHS) (Dec 12-5) 285: Everest Ouellette (FFHS) over Cooper Johnson (WHS) (Fall 0:00) 106: Sam Boltes (WHS) over   (FFHS) (For.) 113: Hayden McCarty (FFHS) over Jacob Harrison (WHS) (Fall 0:00) 120: Andrew Foreman (WHS) over   (FFHS) (For.) 126: Bryce Perry (WHS) over Seth Evans (FFHS) (Fall 0:00) 132: Khalel Sibugan (FFHS) over Tucker Massie (WHS) (Fall 0:00) 138: David B-Meza (WHS) over Christian Riddick (FFHS) (Fall 0:00) 144: Cade Gehris (FFHS) over Brennon Warren (WHS) (Dec 10-4) 150: Christopher Nunez-Jimenez (FFHS) over Gabe West (WHS) (MD 20-10) 157: Gabe Foreman (WHS) over Jayden Spence (FFHS) (Fall 0:00) 165: Ethan Black (FFHS) over Josiah Melton (WHS) (TF 16-0 0:00) 175: Evan Makepeace (WHS) over   (FFHS) (For.).

Washington High School (WHS) 61.0 West Craven High School (WCHS) 15.0
215: Brian Salinas (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 285: Cooper Johnson (WHS) over Lathon Morris (WCHS) (MD 11-0) 106: Sam Boltes (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 113: Jacob Harrison (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 120: Andrew Foreman (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 126: Bryce Perry (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 132: Tucker Massie (WHS) over dawson cowan (WCHS) (Fall 0:00) 138: David B-Meza (WHS) over coy deel (WCHS) (Dec 9-4) 144: Jace Plunkett (WCHS) over Laurence Doby (WHS) (Dec 10-7) 150: Gerald Johnson (WCHS) over   (WHS) (For.) 157: Gabe Foreman (WHS) over Jacob Williams (WCHS) (Fall 0:00) 165: Izaak Niedzielski (WCHS) over Josiah Melton (WHS) (Fall 0:00) 175: Evan Makepeace (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 190: Trenton Baldree (WHS) over angel alvarez ocampo (WCHS) (Fall 0:00)

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