VANDALIA — Tippecanoe, Troy and Piqua all had highlights at the MVL wrestling tournament Friday night.

TIPPECANOE

For the most part, Tippecanoe wrestling had a successful night at the Vandalia SAC.

The Red Devils finished second overall and in the Miami Division, after dropping down to fourth in the Miami Division in the second round.

“We had a really good first round,” Tippecanoe coach Nick Petro said. “We just dropped the ball in the second round. You have to find a way to win those matches. But, we did a good job coming back in the conso semis and winning those matches. Our focus is on the postseason, so we need to come back strong this week.”

Cael Liette (165) led the Red Devils, finishing second.

Liette, who won by pin in the semifinals, dropped an 8-4 decision to Noah Johnson of Fairborn. Liette was trailing just 6-4 before giving up two points late.

“That was the third match between them,” Petro said. “We won the first one and they have won the last two. They are two really good, humble kids going at it. It is just fun to watch.”

Finishing third for Tippecanoe were Riley Hull (106), Elliot Abrams (113), Noah Schwieterman (120), Peyton Bey (132), Sean Kelly (144), and Collin Hanrahan (o150).

Taking fourth were Riley Nicholls (126) and Cade Frazier (138).

TROY

The Troy wrestling team had a strong showing, taking fourth in the Miami Division and finishing fifth overall.

Troy coach Doug Curnes had a lot to be happy about.

“We are making a lot of progress,” Curnes said. “With what we have to work with numbers wise, we are really doing well. Yes, we still make some middle school mistakes out there, but we are really making a lot of progress.”

Joe Cusick (175) nearly came away with a championship.

After advancing to the championship match with a pin and a decision, he was locked up in a battle with Eric Daniel of Vandalia-Butler.

The two were tied 1-1 at the end of regulation.

With just two seconds left in overtime, Daniel was able to get a takedown and get the 3-1 win.

“Joe (Cusick) just had a really good week of wrestling and understanding what he needed to do,” Curnes said. “He really wrestled well tonight.”

Lane Obaugh (126) also advanced to the championship match, getting a 4-1 decision over Gavin Nelson in the semifinals.

In the title match, he lost by pin to Parker Lee of Butler midway through the second period.

“I think we are closing the gap on him (Parker Lee),” Curnes said. “The first time we wrestled him, we got pinned in the first period.”

Kiernan Schnur (215) finished third and Julian Pulverini (150), Danny Murray (157) and Xavier Poffenberger (165) all finished fourth.

PIQUA

Despite finishing fifth in the Miami Division and ninth overall, Piqua had a number of highlights.

Andru Hollopeter (144) led the Indians, finishing second.

Hollopeter upset top seed Sean Kelly of Tippecanoe in the semifinals with a 3-1 win.

The match was tied 1-1 going to the third period.

“That is the kid who pinned him last week,” Piqua coach Hunter Bryant said. “It is tough to beat those kids during the season. Andru is gritty. You have to win matches like that in the third period and that is exactly what he did.”

Hollopeter lost by pin to Ben Hartzell of Greenville in the championship match.

“That kid is short and strong,” Bryant said. “He is a stud. He is going to be a problem for a lot of high school wrestlers.”

Finishing third for Piqua were Gavin Nelson (126) and Landen Martin (175).

After Nelson lost in the semis, he came back with two wins.

Martin lost his opening match to Cusick, before winning three straight matches.

“Gavin (Nelson) is a gritty kid,” Bryant said. “Look at his third place match, he was down three or four points. You have to win those matches in the third period, which is what we have been doing. Landen (Martin) just waited too long to go down (to 175). Once he gets his wind and his strength, he is going to be a beast.”

Parker James (285) continued his progress finishing fourth.

“Let me tell you about Parker James,” Bryant said. “He started the season 0-10 or something like that. Once he got a taste of victory, he got excited.”

In his consolation semifinal, James won by pin in 11 seconds.

“He is a workhorse,” Bryant said. “He had to lose 60 pounds (to get down to 285). He is in the weight room, doing all the hard work. His first round match, he pinned a kid he lost to earlier this season.”

In the third-place match, James was trailing 4-3 before going for a takedown and getting pinned.

“That kid from Greenville had a quick pin on him the first time,” Bryant said. “Parker went for a move to try and win the match and almost got it.”

All three teams will compete in sectionals this Friday and Saturday — after an MVL tournament with plenty of highlights.