By By BRIAN HAINES, Sports Writer
This year the expectations are high, and Washington’s fifth-year coach Spencer Pake wouldn’t want it any other way.
As the Pam Pack swim team heads to Goldsboro Saturday for the NCHSAA 3-A East Regional Swim Meet, which begins at 9 a.m., Pake said that after a strong regular season by his crew the bar has been raised.
Pake, who was named the Coastal Conference Coach of the Year, has 14 kids competing in the regional meet, and will be bringing the rest of the team to watch and get acclimated with higher level competition.
All but two of the Washington swimmers have competed in the regional meet before, and two swimmers, seniors Anna Pfeiffer and Luke Stroud, have made it there all four years they have been with the Pack.
Pake has no worries about his athletes once they get in the pool, but it’s handling the down time that can at times be a problem. However, Pake said his veteran team knows what to do.
Competing in Goldsboro for Washington in the boys’ meet will be Will Davis, Charles Pfeiffer, York Winstead, Brandon Niederhauser, Colin Daw, Joey Davenport, Adam Mason and Stroud.
Participating in the girls competition for the Pack will be Riziki Omonde, Shannon Niederhauser, Shelby Smithwick, Jessie Howard, Sarah Hager and Pfeiffer.
Pake said the team is excited to be competing today, and he feels like his swimmers can put on a strong showing, especially in the relay events.
The Pack skipper said his team has worked hard all season, and credited Stroud, Brandon Niederhauser, Shelby Smithwick and Anna Pfeiffer for their leadership this season.
Pake said that the key to having a successful meet will be for the swimmers to not deviate from what has worked all season.
Here is a look at the Pam Pack boys and girls events
200-yard medley relay
Adam Mason, Charles Pfeiffer, York Winstead, Luke Stroud
200-yard freestyle
Will Davis
200-yard individual medley
Charles Pfeiffer
50-yard freestyle
Brandon Niederhauser and Luke Stroud
100-yard butterfly
York Winstead
100-yard freestyle
Brandon Niederhauser
500-yard freestyle
Brandon Niederhauser
200-yard freestyle relay
Brandon Niederhauser, Will Davis, Joey Davenport, Luke Stroud
100-yard breaststroke
Will Davis
400-yard freestyle relay
Charles Pfeiffer, Colin Daw, Luke Stroud, Brandon Niederhauser
Girls
200-yard medley relay
Riziki Omonde, Anna Pfeiffer, Shannon Niederhauser, Shelby Smithwick
200-yard freestyle
Riziki Omonde and Jessie Howard
50-yard freestyle
Shannon Niederhauser
100-yard freestyle
Anna Pfeiffer, Riziki Omonde and Shelby Smithwick
200-yard freestyle relay
Shannon Niederhauser, Shelby Smithwick, Riziki Omonde, Anna Pfeiffer
100-yard breaststroke
Anna Pfeiffer
400-yard freestyle relay
Sarah Hager, Jessie Howard, Shannon Niederhauser, Shelby Smithwick
500-yard freestyle
Jessie Howard