The Pam Pack swim team picked up a key Coastal Conference win on Wednesday as it splashed past D.H. Conley and South Central to sweep the tri-meet.
The Pam Pack girls put forth a powerful display as they cranked out 140 points to top D.H. Conley (129) and South Central (30).
The Washington boys continued their trend of pulling out late victories as they finished strong in the final two events to tally 130 points to edge past D.H. Conley (127) and South Central (25).
“Both the boys and girls came in first, the boys match was a little closer. There was a lot of talent in the pool for all three teams,” Washington coach Spencer Pake said. “We knew it was going to be tough tonight, but it shows what this team can do.”
The Pam Pack boys headed into the final two events needing a strong outing in both and they produced.
Washington took the points lead in the second-to-last heat as freshman Mason Beach won the 100-yard breaststroke (1:15.73) and sophomore Daniel Crozier placed third (1:17.91). The Pack cemented its lead in the final heat as Luke Harris, Beach, Eric Lovenberg and Robert Sandy teamed up to swim a 3:42.10 to win the 400-yard freestyle relay.
“In the breaststroke we needed two good swims and we ended up taking first and third to take a one-point lead going into that last relay,” Pake said. “Then we had to win that last relay to hold it.”
Last year the boys’ team made a habit of pulling out late wins and Pake applauded their competitive spirit.
“It’s a good feeling to know you got competitors on your team,” Pake said. “They strive to win. Sometimes they fall a little short but they come back the next time stronger and with more will and tonight was one of those nights.”
The boys also took first in the 200-yard medley relay (Lovenberg, Crozier, Sandy, Harris), 200-yard freestyle (Harris) and the 200-yard individual medley (Lovenberg).
“All our relays did a great job tonight and it was a tremendous effort by our boys to pull a win out,” Pake said.
The girls’ team continued to flex its muscles on Wednesday as it won nine events despite not having star swimmer Emily Pfeiffer.
The Pam Pack got off to a hot start as it won the first five events of the meet. Chandler Beach, Megan Baldwin, Jessica Penhollow and Amy Arnold won the 200-yard medley relay, Lanie Godley took first in the 200-yard freestyle, Baldwin took gold in the 200-yard individual medley and Penhollow placed first in the 50-yard freestyle, right ahead of Arnold. Godley won the 100-yard butterfly and Penhollow and Arnold placed first and second, respectively, in the 100-yard freestyle to get the Pack started.
Pake said he had several swimmers give great efforts during the meet.
“Kaitlyn Richards stepped up today. She missed some time and has been a little out of shape but she stepped up today and I was proud of her,” Pake said. “Chandler Beach stepped up big for us tonight. She has a bit of a leg thing and she swam through some pain. Megan Baldwin and Lanie Godley both had great swims.”
The girls would finish out the meet winning the 200-yard freestyle relay (Richards, Penhollow, Arnold, Godley), 100-yard breaststroke (Baldwin) and the 400-yard freestyle relay (Beach, Godley, Richards, Baldwin).
The Pam Pack will be back in action on Dec. 12 when it plays at New Bern.