Who has done the dirty work?

Who has paid the offseason dues in the weight room and on the mat?

A terrific high school wrestling measuring stick tackles us right out of the gate on Saturday as Milford High hosts the 26th Milford/Souhegan Wrestling Invitational.

A dozen teams from three different states will be involved in the non-stop action on a pair of mats. Wrestling begins in the morning at 9:30 a.m. at Milford High and runs through the entire day with the championship finals slated for 4:30 p.m.

“We’re excited, we’ve got some quality teams coming in so it should provide a good test for our guys right out of the gate,” said Milford High coach Dana Bourassa.

Slated to compete are the two host teams, Nashua North, Merrimack, White Mountains, Memorial, Central and West from Manchester and Winnacunnet from the Granite State. Winchester and Minnechaug Regional make the trip from Massachusetts and Coventry, R.I., fills out the rugged field.

The event will be a great opportunity for mat fans to get a good look at two potential champs in New Hampshire Division II, Milford and Merrimack.

Admission ($5 adults, $3 students) is good for the entire day full of action. Milford High School also promises a delicious array of snacks, meals and treats at its snack bar.

MILFORD LOADED, SOUHEGAN VERY YOUNG

Fourth in Division II a year ago, Milford will be a much better team in the second half of the year as it reloads a little bit in the early season.

Souhegan coach Evan Pittera notes the Sabers will be extremely young as they tackle a rugged Division II schedule with no juniors or seniors on the roster.

Milford

CO-HEAD COACHES: Jeff Sellars and Dana Bourassa

LAST YEAR’S RESULTS: 20-6, Fourth in Div. II

RETURNING VARSITY STARTERS: Ricky DeBernardo Sr.; Maverick Dodier, Sr.; Ethan Briggs, Jr.; Dominic Goulette, Jr.; Trevor Grenier, Jr.; Charlie Carter, Jr.; Rudy Schnare, Soph.

COACH’S COMMENT: “We have a squad with no returning state champions and we graduated 12 seniors, so we are re-building. However, we have a great coaching staff, spirit is high and the wrestlers are working very hard.”

TOP RETURNERS: Goulette, Div. II runner-up; DeBernardo, third in Div. II; Briggs, fifth in Div. II; Grenier, sixth in Div. II

Souhegan

HEAD COACH: Evan Pittera

RETURNING VARSITY STARTERS: James Raiser, Soph., 113; Cam Albert, Soph., 120; Victor Caballos, Soph., 132; Sam Theriault, Soph., 138

PROMISING NEWCOMERS: Aiden Wilson, Frosh., 132; AJ Bearor, Frosh., 195; RJ Emby, Frosh.; Kenny Roundtree, Frosh., 220