Fort Riley ? For the ninth year in a row, a team of Fort Riley soldiers has placed in the top three at a national competition testing close-combat fighting skills.

The Fort Riley team finished second in the recent U.S. Army Combatives Championship at Fort Hood, Texas. Hundreds of soldiers took part in the event, which puts competitors through a variety of one-on-one bouts.

Two members of the Fort Riley team placed first in their weight categories. Capt. Brandon Bear won the 180-pound category, while Spc. Joseph Sundstrom won the 140-pound category.

The entire team was honored at a ceremony Friday at the 1st Infantry Division Headquarters at Fort Riley.