By DON O'BRIEN

Herald-Whig Sports Editor

Ashton Gronewold didn't get the call he wanted over the weekend. The former Carthage High School star was passed up during the National Football League draft.

However, the Missouri Science & Technology senior finally heard from the pros on Monday afternoon. The Chicago Bears invited Gronewold to attend a rookie minicamp from Thursday through Sunday in Chicago with the hopes of getting an invite back to the team's fall training camp.

"It took a while, but it finally came," said Gronewold, who is the first area product to participate in an NFL camp since former South Shelby star Ron Janes.

While he wasn't nervous during the draft, he admitted his adrenaline started flowing after getting the call from Chicago.

"As soon as I got off the phone I knew I had to go work out, get in a run," he said. "That's when it hits you."

The Bears drafted two wide receivers over the weekend and Gronewold is one of two free agent wide receivers the team invited for its minicamp, giving the team 10 wide receivers. That number doesn't count Pro Bowl return specialist Devin Hester, who starting learning the wide receiver position last season.

Gronewold leaves Missouri S & T owning most of the school's receiving and scoring records. As a senior last fall, Gronewold was a first-team member of the prestigious Associated Press Little All-American Team. He caught 87 passes for 1,009 yards and 13 touchdowns.

He also returned two kicks for touchdowns and had a rushing TD. He finished with 2,250 all-purpose yards and was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy, Division II's version of the Heisman.

He has NFL-type speed, but at 5-foot-10, Gronewold lacks the physical makeup of most NFL receivers. All but one Bears receiver -- Rashied Davis -- is listed at 6-foot or taller.

While Philadelphia and Arizona also expressed interest in Gronewold before the draft, Chicago was the only team to call him for a minicamp invite.

-- dobrien@whig.com/221-3365