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Washington’s Sam Boltes got the match with Ayden-Grifton started right with a technical fall win over Ayden-Grifton’s Macon Daugherty. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

Bryce Petty and his family celebrate his 100th career win during Saturday's wrestling duals at Washington High School. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

Bryce Petty and his family celebrate his 100th career win during Saturday's wrestling duals at Washington High School. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

Washington’s Gabe Foreman eventually won by fall over Ayden-Grifton’s Parker Roberts at 150 pounds. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

David B-Meza picked up Ayden-Grifton’s Connor Loftin and later slammed him to the mat during their match at 138 pounds. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

Saturday's wrestling duals at Washington High School. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

There was an eerie silence that loomed over the floor at Dave W. Smith Gymnasium. Parents, students and wrestlers were not sure how to react.

Washington’s wrestlers walked over and shook hands with members of the Ayden-Grifton squad that had just beaten them in the second round of the Class 2A dual team wrestling playoffs. Even members of the Chargers didn’t really know how to react. There was no jumping up and down or celebration at the upset that had just happened. They packed up their belongings and left the gym for the school bus ride home.

The Chargers, fresh off a win over North Johnston, continued their success by beating Washington, the No. 2 seed in the East, in the next round, 39-36. The Chargers, an Eastern Plains Conference opponent, won the final three matches, one by forfeit, and four of the last five to complete the upset.

“Ayden-Grifton wanted it more than us and they competed harder at some of their spots and won matches that we had won (last) Tuesday when we saw them in a dual team and beat them pretty bad,” Washington coach Chris Penhollow said. “Bad enough that they did the second match and decided to forfeit all the matches to us because they wanted to be healthy for the conference tournament the next day.

“We had a couple of kids who lost by a pin where before they either beat their kid or didn’t get pinned, which makes a difference. So like I said, a bunch of different things.”

Washington got the day started the right way with a 50-23 win over another conference foe, West Craven. Washington won the first seven weight classes by pin, technical fall or forfeit. Bryce Perry got a technical fall over Dawson Cowan at 132 pounds to celebrate his 100th career win.

Things even started well against Ayden-Grifton. The Pack held a 24-12 lead with wins by Sam Boltes (113 pounds), Perry (126), Tucker Massie (132) and David B-Meza (138). Gabe Foreman picked up another win at 150 pounds that would be one of the last for Washington.

A similar situation happened to the Pam Pack two years ago when they lost in the second round of the dual teams. Saturday’s loss was a stunning reminder of that day and how anything can happen in the postseason.

The Pam Pack now turn their focus to the individual state tournament. The East Regional will be held at Ayden-Grifton on Feb. 14-15.

“It didn’t happen,” Penhollow said. “So there’s a lot of disappointment, but then again, you got to turn the page and start getting ready for the regionals. So, yeah, we’re going to jump right back in and start working with the guys that we expect to make a good run and get into regionals and hopefully in the states.”

Washington High School (WHS) 57.0 West Craven High School (WCHS) 23.0

106: Solomon Boltes (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 113: Sam Boltes (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 120: Andrew Foreman (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 126: Wyatt Shipley (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 132: Bryce Perry (WHS) over dawson cowan (WCHS) (TF 18-2 0:00) 138: Tucker Massie (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 144: David B-Meza (WHS) over Jace Plunkett (WCHS) (MD 14-6) 150: Gerald Johnson (WCHS) over Gabe West (WHS) (Fall 0:00) 157: Gabe Foreman (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 165: Jacob Williams (WCHS) over Josiah Melton (WHS) (TF 17-1 0:00) 175: Izaak Niedzielski (WCHS) over   (WHS) (For.) 190: Trenton Baldree (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 215: Wyatt Johnson (WHS) over   (WCHS) (For.) 285: Lathon Morris (WCHS) over   (WHS) (For.)

Ayden-Grifton High School (AGHS) 39.0 Washington High School (WHS) 36.0

113: Sam Boltes (WHS) over Macon Daugherty (AGHS) (TF 20-1 0:00) 120: Keller Guthrie (AGHS) over Andrew Foreman (WHS) (Fall 0:00) 126: Bryce Perry (WHS) over Benjamin Caudill (AGHS) (TF 19-3 0:00) 132: Tucker Massie (WHS) over marcos Romero (AGHS) (TF 15-0 0:00) 138: David B-Meza (WHS) over connor Loftin (AGHS) (Dec 8-5) 144: Landon Smith (AGHS) over Brennon Warren (WHS) (Fall 0:00) 150: Gabe Foreman (WHS) over Parker Roberts (AGHS) (Fall 0:00) 157: Kam Hudson (AGHS) over   (WHS) (For.) 165: Josiah Melton (WHS) over   (AGHS) (For.) 175: Nycholas Prayer (AGHS) over Evan Makepeace (WHS) (SV-1 10-7) 190: Trenton Baldree (WHS) over Dashawn Folks (AGHS) (Fall 0:00) 215: Jack Ewell (AGHS) over Wyatt Johnson (WHS) (Fall 0:00) 285: Jorge Medina (AGHS) over Cooper Johnson (WHS) (Fall 0:00) 106: Makayla Wallace (AGHS) over   (WHS) (For.)

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