<I>The Eagle/David Heldreth</I><BR>Isaac Whitman takes on a Vale wrestler during the EOL dual meet on Friday at Grant Union High School.

JOHN DAY – The Grant Union wrestling team got a preview of things to come last weekend.

The Prospectors faced off against all five of their Eastern Oregon League competitors in the first ever EOL dual meets at Grant Union on Friday. The EOL dual meet was started by the league to prepare the wrestlers for the district meet which will be held on Feb. 8 and 9 in Burns.

“The meet will allow us to see how the kids are doing and to help with the seeding for the district meet,” Grant Union coach Dave Naibert said. “It’s important because the first criteria for seeding is

head-to-head competition.”

The Pros finished Friday with a record of 2-3. They beat Vale and Umatilla, but lost to Burns, Nyssa and Riverside. Isaac Whitman at 135 pounds and Jesse Wise at 189 each took four of their five matches on Friday.

“I feel pretty good,” Whitman said. “I beat a kid that was ranked like fifth in state and I was ranked sixth. Hopefully we switch now.”

Grant Union headed to Burns for dual meets with Burns, Ontario and Lakeview on Saturday. Grant Union fell to Ontario, and Burns had the Pros number again on Saturday. However, they were able to beat Lakeview.

Freshman Clay Thomas took the 160-pound weight class with a record of 3-0 at the meet. Thomas won his final match by pinning Burns’ Christopher Gillespie, a senior who has been to state. Ethan Kowing at 171 pounds, and Wise both finished in first as well.

“He (Thomas) really seemed to start to believe in himself on Saturday,” Naibert said. “That’s something he really needed.”

The team was shorthanded this weekend after losing four wrestlers to injuries and eligibility difficulties. Starting senior Chris Boyer’s absence created a large void on the team. Boyer, who wrestles at 112 pounds, suffered a concussion on Jan. 4 during the Maniac Tournament in Orofino, Idaho. He is expected to return to the team this week.

The Pros will now prepare for the LaPine Invitational on Saturday, January 26.