Union Pines tuned up for its conference season-opener by finishing second in the Cavalier Invitational wrestling tournament held at Southern Lee Saturday.

The Vikings grabbed second with a total of 201.5 points. Southern Lee, the host school, claimed the title of the 15-school event with a total of 220.5 points. Pinecrest came in fourth with 131 points.

Union Pines had three individual champions in Randy Stevens, Trey Weliver and Kaleb Rierson, while Daniel Deardorff claimed a second-place finish to pace the shorthanded Vikings effort.

Viking coach Matt Ragsdale said his team gave a good effort, but was not wrestling at full strength as several starters were missing. He immediately turned his attention to Tuesday's home matchup against Cape Fear Valley Conference foe Western Harnett.

He said Western Harnett is a tough team and particularly strong in several weight classes. He hoped a full house of fans would show up at Union Pines for the 7 p.m. clash, a meeting that he promised would be competitive and exciting to watch.

In Saturday's tournament, Stevens won his championship at 130 pounds with a 20-3 technical fall over Pinecrest's Dustin Roemer, while Weliver followed by winning the 135-pound class with a pin of Derek Buress of White Oak in 5:03.

In the upper weight classes, the Vikes got a championship from Rierson when he took a 17-8 major decision over Kenneth Lindsey of Southern Lee.

Deardorff finished as runner-up at 112 pounds when he lost a 6-3 decision to Hai Tang of Jordan.

Union Pines had two consolation winners, with Brandon Berry winning at 119 and Michael Brennan doing the same at 140 pounds. Seth Kosem lost in the consolation finals at 125 pounds, while Marquis McKinney fell in the 285-pound consolation finals.

Joining Roemer in leading the way for the Patriots was Jourden Manusov, who also reached the championship clash before falling to Kyle Tart of Jordan at 103 pounds. Claiming a consolation title for the Patriots was Michael Lippincott, who posted an 11-3 major decision over Mason Skeistaitis of Overhills at 112 pounds. Zavion Thompson just missed out on a consolation championship when he lost by major decision to Alex Williams of Southern Lee at 171 pounds.