WASHINGTON — In their first full year after being relegated to Class 2-A and the Eastern Plains Conference, the Pam Pack were shrouded by questions and doubts. Being the largest 2-A school in the state, could they live up the hype? Could they stay focused or would they flop in the face of unfamiliar competition?

As the 2013-2014 academic year comes to a close, the Eastern Plains Conference released its seasonal all-conference selections Friday, summarizing the spring and answering many of those preliminary questions. On the surface, the Pack answered the call, as the relegation seems to have transformed a program from pretender to championship contender.

 

Baseball

Conversely, as other spring sports excelled, baseball struggling and matched its 2013 win total of three under first-year head coach Ryan Whitney. Despite another disappointing season for the Pam Pack, Trey Brunson, individually, flourished in his final season in blue and white, garnering Washington’s only all-conference selection. The senior shortstop finished with a .350 average and 10 RBI. Sophomore Neil Jennings earned an honorable mention and Farmville Central’s Jake Ashorn took home player-of-the-year honors, leading his team to a first-place EPC finish.

 

Softball

It was a different story for the Pam Pack softball team, which slightly underachieved — one could say — by falling well short of its championship goal, but managed to finish first in the EPC with a 16-4 overall record. Washington finished tied with its new conference rival Beddingfield for number of all-conference players selected, as the Bruins’ Caroline Smith even shared co-player-of-the-year honors with junior hurler Haley Hutchins, who notched a team-high .569 average with three homers and 24 RBI and pitched her way to a 16-2 record with a 0.71 ERA and 152 strikeouts. Sisters Chrissy and Style McKissick, as well as juniors Haley Wright and Allison Brantley got the all-conference nod with stellar offensive and defensive campaigns. In a rather disappointing finish, Adriana Tyson, one of the preseason favorites for WDN Female Athlete-of-the-Year, received an honorable mention, along with teammate Kaylee Jackson.

 

Soccer

No team had a more dominant and program-altering season than the Pam Pack soccer team, which finished at an impressive 22-3 mark, led by WDN Coach-of-the-Year Ed Rodriguez. The Pack breezed through EPC play, outscoring opponents 72-0. A clean slate for junior goalkeeper Emily Alligood, an all-conference honorable mention. Alana Jefferson, Sidney Edwards, Harley Hudson, Caitlyn Scott and Warner Little also secured all-conference recognition, while Isabella Mayo, Rubi Perez, Katie Tate and Anna McLawhorn received honorable mentions. The Pack fell two-goals short of their goal of a championship, but Christian Heggie, who led the state of North Carolina with 55 goals, rewrote the Washington history books, winning EPC Player-of-the-Year.

 

Tennis

The conference-champion Pam Pack tennis team under head coach Miranda Whitley had four all-conference selections, including Holt McKeithan, Zack Pagnani and the team’s only senior, Luke Ainsworth. Junior Connor Wilkins easily earned EPC Player-of-the-Year. Eric Crozier got the team’s only honorable mention.

 

Golf

The Washington golf team looked sharp in its first season in the EPC. Head coach Jim Kozuch had two players earn all-conference honors: William Page and Peter Birdsong., while Southwest Edgecombe’s Cole Jefferies took conference player-of-the-year.

 

Track and Field

The Pam Pack boys track team locked up an EPC Conference Championship in its first season in Class 2-A. For his aggressive coaching style and concrete results, head coach Jon Blank garnered coach-of-the-year honors, while the WDN Male Athlete-of-the-Year, senior Stevie Green, took home field athlete-of-the-year for his performance in the long jump and high jump.