Milford and Souhegan are ready to start the wrestling season.

Milford, which finished third in Division II last season returns a solid blend of experience and youth under co-coaches Dana Bourassa and Jeff Sellars. Bourassa is enter­ing his 40th season at the helm of the program, which returns standouts George Horta, Ricky DeBernardo, Matt DiGiosio and Kyle Faucher- Clancey.

Meanwhile Souhegan is looking to spark its program in the right di­rection with senior Jake Upton and six freshmen on the squad under first-year head coach Alex Pittera.

"Though we are a young team, we are full of talent, determination, and good leadership from our returning senior Jake Upton," Pittera said. "Although we expect to take bumps and bruises as a young team now, this team will be a force to reckon with come the junior and senior years."

Here’s a glance at the local teams:

MILFORD

CO-COACHES: Dana Bourassa, 40th season; Jeff Sellars, fifth season

LAST YEAR: Third at D-II champion­ships; ninth at MOC

KEY RETURNERS: George Horta, Ricky DeBernardo, Matt DiGiosio, Kyle Faucher- Clancey.

PROJECTED STARTERS: TBA.

COACH’S COMMENT: "We are going to take each bout one at a time and try to get better every day. Merrimack, Windham and Hollis Brookline are looking very good based on last year’s teams."

SOUHEGAN

COACH: Alex Pittera, first season

LAST YEAR: Tied for 35th at MOC

KEY RETURNERS: Jake Upton, sr., 138

PROJECTED STARTERS: James Raiser, fr., 106; Sam Theriault, fr., 113; Ryan Hauser, fr., 120; Cam Albert, fr., 126; Nicolo Lazzari, fr., 132; Victor Ceballos, fr., 132; Jake Upton, sr., 138.

COACH’S COMMENT: "After spend­ing a few years under the coaching of Worceter Polytechnic Institute’s Hall of Fame wrestler Garrett Trombi during their middle school years, these up-and-coming freshmen are more than ready to tackle whatever challenges high school wrestling bring them. Each of these student-athletes has their own unique strengths and styles that they will contin­ue to build and improve upon during their high school careers."