Washington hosted the Eastern Plains Conference Tournament on Saturday to determine the top wrestlers in each weight class. By the end of the meet, 13 of the 14 Pam Pack athletes participating had earned a place on the pedestal, bolstering an already impressive resume the team has pieced together through the last three months.
After finishing the regular season with a record of 28-1 and a conference title, the first in 29 years, the Pam Pack paired against top wrestlers from Farmville Central, Beddingfield, North Johnston and North Pitt in hopes of improving individual standing. Jacob Smith (106), Simeon Pope (126) and D.K. Credle (138) all won their respective weight classes, while Marcus Sneed (113), Austin Coward (120), Ian Stroud (195) and Neill Jennings (285) earned second place finishes.

Smith scored 18 team points by picking up a bye in the semi-final and pinning the Jaguars’ Matt Garrett in the first period. Later, Pope, who is undefeated in conference, received a bye in the quarterfinals, won by a 7-4-tech fall over Beddingfield’s Aaron Bland in the semis and defeated North Johnston’s Jo Jo Richardson via a 22-10 major decision to take the title.

In the most dominating single individual performance of the day, Credle, also undefeated in conference matches, pinned Beddingfield’s Brandon Dougherty in 55 seconds, earning a place in the finals, where he downed Farmville Central’s Messiah Caudle in 42 seconds for a total of 20 points.

Bryant Romero (220), Andrew Ferguson (170), Kenny Castaneda (160), Jordan Grazier (152), Cameron Davenport (145) and Austin Koonce (132) were deemed the third best wrestlers in their respective weight classes. Wrestling at 182, Chris Coogan finished in fourth place.

Tuesday, Washington will host Bartlett Yancey, Trinity and wrestling powerhouse Dixon in the 1st and 2nd rounds of the 2-A dual team playoffs. The first round, beginning at 6:30 p.m., will pit Washington vs. Bartlett Yancey and Dixon vs. Trinity. The winners from both dual matches will face off at 7:30 p.m. with a spot in the regional championship on the line.