By By STEVE FRANKLIN, Sports Writer
Washington wrestling coach Danny Riggs calls this year’s Pam Pack wrestling squad the best group he’s ever coached.
And with talent comes expectations.
The Pack returns a quartet of state tournament qualifiers.
Leading the charge is sophomore Justin “Weasel” Moore, who will move up to the 171-pound weight class this season after posting a 78-15 record in his first two seasons at 160 pounds. Moore took fourth at the NCHSAA Class 3-A state championships in February.
Moore needs just 52 victories over the next two seasons to surpass Gerald Lawrence as the Pam Pack’s career wins leader.
Another wrestler that Riggs has high hopes for is 189-pound senior Johnnie Smallwood, who has qualified for the state tourney each of the last two years.
Early in the year, the Pack will be without both wrestlers, as the two compete with the Pam Pack football team in the state playoffs.
However, that doesn’t mean Washington will be short on talent.
Washington will feature Martelles Jones, who qualified for the state tournament last season, as well as Gabriel Gardner, who made the state tournament two years ago as a freshman.
Also returning for the Pam Pack is 112-pounder Daniel Garcia, 145-pounder Mike Smith, 152-pounder Darien Peele, 160-pounders Charlie Holtzclaw and Mike Goldberg and 285-pound Marquin Hill.
The Pack also have plenty of new faces, which Riggs believes can aid his team, including 103-pound freshman Will Allen, 215-pound freshman Dontrelle Jones, 140-pound transfer Mike Jones, and 135-pound sophomore Timmy Tetterton.
The Pam Pack will get their first test this evening, when Washington travels to North Pitt for a 7 p.m. match.