Canton High School's wrestling team was just one win away from being the host with the most at Wednesday's talent-loaded eight-team tournament held in the Phase III gymnasium.

After pinning their way to a 4-0 record in pool play — including an impressive win over No. 8-ranked Rockford — the Chiefs dropped a hard-fought 40-23 decision to Tecumseh in the event's championship showdown.

"They beat us in the middle weights, but we made a nice comeback in the upper weights and the lower weights," Canton coach Cory Mancuso said. "We just came up a few points short."

First-place Tecumseh is coached by Casey Randolph, who preceded Mancuso as the head coach at Canton.

"Casey is putting together a great program at Tecumseh," Mancuso said. "I think they're ranked second or third in Division 2. We knew if we were going to win it, we'd have to beat a really good team."

Three Chiefs went unbeaten on the day: Anthony Abro at 189 pounds, Ben Poirier  (215) and Ben Griffin (103).

Abro and Griffin have yet to be beaten this season.

Zach Marsh also enjoyed a brilliant day for the Chiefs, racking up a 4-1 mark at 145 pounds.

"We're getting better each match," said Mancuso. "Beating Rockford was a huge win for us."

The Chiefs also upended Saline, Dearborn and Monroe.

Filling out the field were Riverview and Adrian.

The Chiefs are currently unranked, but their victories over state-ranked Rockford and Monroe should earn them a spot in next week's poll.

Canton returns to action Wednesday at South Lyon, where it will tangle with the host Lions and Livonia Stevenson.