With a winning total of 170.5, the Union Pines wrestling team won the Feud in The Forest tournament going away Saturday in Fayetteville.

Despite being without the services of state-qualifiers Brandon Berry (125-pounds) and Mike Brennan (160-pounds), Union Pines still managed to claim the tournament victory in the 14-team event at Pine Forest High School.

West Johnston placed second at the tournament with 157 points, while Southern Alamance scored 156 to finish third.

The tournament victory was the Vikes' third of the year. They also have two second-place finishes and a fifth-place finish in tournament competition this season.

According to head coach Matt Ragsdale, Vikings Ryan Hull (125) and Seth Owen (160) filled in admirably for Berry and Brennan, respectively, both turning in key third-place showings Saturday.

Jared Bartram won the 171-pound championship for Union Pines, while fellow senior Josh Huskey took the 215-pound title.

The Vikings host a huge nonconfrence clash against Chapel Hill Wednesday. Currently Union Pines (9-0, 4-0 in CFV conference action) is ranked third in the coaches 3A dual poll, while Chapel Hill earned honorable mention in the same poll. Union Pines is also the top-rated tournament team according to retrorankings.com

Union Pines' dual meet with Chapel Hill is schedule to start at 7 p.m. in Cameron on the floor of Bob Ward Gymnasium, The featured matches are the 135-pound bout against fourth-ranked Vikings Chris Rubinosky and Chapel Hill's Peter Dreher; and the 160-pound contest between U.P.'s second-ranked Mike Brennan and top-ranked Max Redfoot from Chapel Hill.