Washington has just one dual-team loss on the season. Andrew Ferguson has maintained his status as one of the best 182-pound 2-A wrestlers in the state. Others — Austin Koonce, Henry Jennings and Carson Asby, to name a few — have been exceptional, as well.

This is right where coach Chris Penhollow expected Washington to be as the postseason rapidly approaches.

“We’re trying to get tougher and get people at every weight class. We’re still shifting to see if we can get everybody where they want to be,” he said. “Just a couple of spots. We’re pretty set everywhere else. But we’re looking good and we’re pretty excited.

“We’re right where I kind of thought we’d be. Nothing crazy has happened.”

That lone loss came to a Cary team in a higher classification. The value in seeing that kind of competition far outweighs the mark of a loss.

That’s been the mantra all season long. The Pam Pack’s most recent outing saw it travel to Corinth Holders to compete in its Jolly Roger tournament. Notable performances saw Asby and Ferguson finish first in their respective weight classes. Koonce and Khyric McCloud each earned second place. Dylan Modlin, Mitchell Cobb and Logan Nichols all placed, as well.

Ferguson had to beat Topsail’s Noah Lavalle, who had beaten Ferugson at West Carteret’s Beach Brawl on Nov. 18. Ferguson made a statement in a 17-5 major-decision win.

Henry Jennings faced challenges each time he hit the mat. Usually a lock to place in tournaments, Jennings struggled against foes from C.B. Aycock and Topsail.

“He had probably the toughest weight class this past weekend. I told him that going in. He wrestled hard,” Penhollow said. “It just wasn’t his day. They were solid.”

As a team, Washington was one match win off from winning the entire tournament. It came up three points short.

The Pam Pack heads west this weekend to compete in Riverside-Durham’s Jim Key Invitational. Cary is one of the 13 other schools slated to be competing. Many of them are larger schools, meaning Washington gets yet another chance to measure itself against top-notch opponents.

“It’ll be another tough, individual tournament to get away from the east,” Penhollow said. “That’s the only thing we’ve got this week.”

The next week or so will provide the Pam Pack with plenty of opportunities to toughen up. From a physical standpoint, the team will be able to do just that in Durham this weekend. In addition to that, Washington also has exams starting on Friday. The wrestlers will have to be physically and mentally sharp to endure that stretch.

After this, Washington travels to West Craven on Jan. 25. It will host the 2-A Eastern Carolina Conference on Jan. 30. Then it will be time to see whether or not this is the Pam Pack group that can get over the postseason hump.