Washington took another step toward the beginning of football season on Thursday as the Pam Pack held its annual football/cheerleading team meet and greet on Thursday night.
Varsity and JV athletes from both sports brought food for parents and spectators as coaches addressed the crowd and further boosted excitement for the upcoming season.
Coming off a stellar 2012 season in which Washington went 10-4 and advanced to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 1956, interest in the Pam Pack football team has skyrocketed as the team had nearly 100 athletes show up at football camp this year.
The turnout for the annual meet and greet was equally strong as the Washington cafeteria was packed with Pam Pack fans.
“This might be the biggest turn out I’ve seen in my 10 years here,” Washington football coach Sport Sawyer said. “The parents and the players are very excited about this upcoming year.
“This community is eager to have a football champion and we’re in the process of getting there. I think with some hard work and a lot of effort maybe we can get them one.”
Washington varsity cheerleading coach Anita Cutler and JV cheerleading coach Jenifer Walker said their athletes were excited to be a part of the event.
“The girls count down the days to the Meet the Pack, they love it,” Walker said. “They love getting dressed up. It’s been a long-going tradition here and it’s a real feel good moment. It’s the start of football season and if you have football in your blood it doesn’t leave.”
Aside from sparking the football flame, the meet and greet also allows parents and fans to get familiar with the school’s coaches and players.
“We want the cheerleaders and the parents to be a part of this so they can see the football team because we spend the whole season following them everywhere,” said Cutler, who is going into her ninth season as the varsity coach. “It’s a good way to put some faces to names for all the teams.”
Fans, parents, coaches and players alike enjoyed having dinner together and afterwards all the players and coaches were introduced to the crowd. Overall, it was a good night for all involved.
“I was a great night and having so many people here was just a sign of great support for Washington athletics,” Sawyer said. “We’re excited about the upcoming season and thankful for all the parents that came out.”