<I>Contributed photos/Clayton Wise</I><bR>Isaac Whitman pins a wrestler during the tournament.

CULVER – A couple of Grant Union wrestlers got second chances at the Culver Tournament last weekend.

Isaac Whitman and Ethan Kowing both lost early matches to tough opponents Dec. 12. Whitman was pinned by Kyle Freestone of Reedsport and Kowing lost a decision to Thomas Schantz of Sisters.

However, both Prospectors got revenge on their opponents. Whitman pinned Freestone in their second meeting, and Kowing won the second match in a decision.

“Isaac got caught off guard and pinned by Freestone in the first match,” Grant Union coach Dave Naibert said. “It shows a lot about what he’s made of to come back in the second match. He was really romping him and ahead in points and then still pinned him the second time.”

Whitman and Kowing earned fourth places in the 140-pound and 189-pound weight classes respectively. Levi Gagnon also took fourth place in the 103-pound weight class. He lost a close match with Anthony Holstead of Reedsport, the No. 3-ranked wrestler in Oregon.

Grant Union’s Joel Greschok was the only wrestler to place in the top three. He earned a third-place finish in the 152-pound weight class.

Clay Thomas was the fifth Pro wrestler to place at the meet. He took fifth place and wrestled five matches during the day. Grant Union placed five of 15 wrestlers they took to the meet.

The Pros will travel to Milton Freewater for the Mac-Hi Tournament at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20.

“It’s the first time we’ve wrestled the Mac-Hi Tournament,” Naibert said. “They used to be in our district. They’ve grown a lot now though. I’m not looking for the team to win tournaments right now. I want the individual kids to get to wrestle good opponents and get better for districts.”