Every Union Pines athletic team ended the fall season with something to show for their hard work.

Most impressively, the women's tennis team made it to the state finals and ended with the state runner-up title. Although Hickory defeated the Vikings 5-1, freshman Neena Wanko stunned state individual champion Emily Mauser.

"Once my feet touch the ground again I'm going to realize that we had a great season," says tennis coach John Frye. "We were the state runner-up."

Union Pines cross country teams also had impressive seasons. The men finished first in the conference, first in the regionals and eighth in the state meet. The team placed seventh in a national meet held in Orlando, Fla., at Disneyworld.

"The most rewarding part of our cross country season to me," says senior Blake Boyd, "was being named Conference Runner of the Year. It showed that all of my hardwork over the last four years had finally paid off."

The women won the conference championship meet, finished second in the regular season, third in the regionals, 14th in the state and 15th in the Orlando meet.

The women's golf team had three state qualifiers, and the women's volleyball and men's soccer teams each made it to third-round state playoff matches.

The men's soccer team ended their season ranked eighth among state 3-A schools and were ranked as high as fifth during the season.

Senior Dalton Hadlock has been invited to an Olympic Development Program national tryout.

Every Viking team was truly victorious, but the biggest surprise of the season happened under the Friday night lights.

The Viking football team beat both rivals, Pinecrest and North Moore, this year, re-energizing students for a new and improved gridiron squad. Union Pines finished with four wins overall, just missing state playoff action. The team had not won a conference game the previous three years.

Big tailback John Gallimore and Pete Peterson were all-conference performers for the Vikings.

"We're leading in Wachovia Cup points after the fall athletic season," says athletic director and vice prinicipal Dale Buie. "That shows what a successful fall it was."

Football

Record: 4-7 (2-5 in conference)

Notes: Wins over Pinecrest and North Moore,

first conference wins in three years.

All conference: John Gallimore and Pete Peterson

Men's Soccer

Record: 23-2-2 (13-0-1 in conference)

Notes: Conference regular season and tournament champions.

Won first state playoff game in school history,

advancing to the third round.

All conference: Dalton Hadlock (Offensive player of the year),

Travis Frazier (Defensive player of the year), Brian Hayes, Brendan Gibbons, Chris Wylie, Carson McLean and Jordan Mebane

Chris Hadlock named conference coach of the year.

Volleyball

Record: 19-4 (all losses to Triton)

Notes: Second in conference, lost in third round of state playoffs.

All conference: Courtney Sauer and Carley Shiflett.

Women's Golf

Notes: Fourth in region, 12th in state.

State qualifiers: Amanda D'Ostroph, Laura Kinsman, Hunter Horne

Women's Tennis

Record: 18-1 (14-0 in conference)

Notes: Conference champions, eastern regional champions,

state runner-up.

Conference MVP: Neena Wanko (left)

All conference: Katie Kelly, Natasha Whetzel, Kendra Black, Lydia Stalls and Maura Lenahan

Men's Cross Country

Notes: Conference regular season and tournament champions, first in regionals, eigth in states.

Nat Carter named coach of the year.

All conference: Blake Boyd (Runner of the Year), Ryan Heib, Ian Estes, Brandon Peeken

Women's Cross Country

Notes: Conference tournament champions, third in region, 14th in states.

All conference: Leigh Anne Ferrell, Victoria Glenn, Kayla Lively and Megan McLendon