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Cavalier girls looking for special winter on hoop court

The Hollis Brookline girls hoop team return three starters back from a team that lost in the Division II finals to Lebanon, led by 6-1 junior center Elizabeth Atkinson.

Atkinson should be oozing confidence off the fall run to the third straight state Division I volleyball title.

Coach Bob Murphy is very optimistic after good off-season of improvement. As he should be.

“Lebanon is always strong and Portsmouth is definitely going to be tough,” Murphy said, “but I think we’re right up there.”

The Cavaliers open the season Friday night, at home (6:30) against Goffstown.

“Many of our players improved in the off-season, so once again we have high expectations this year,” Murphy said. “Our goal is to get deep into the playoffs and hopefully return to the final game. The key is staying healthy.”

Five returning state Division II placers will anchor the Hollis Brookline wrestling lineup on a nightly basis. Coach Brian Bumpus will just wait for the younger athletes to fill in the cracks.

“Our success will be determined by how quickly our younger wrestlers can adapt to the high school level of wrestling,” said Bumpus. “We will be looking to fill out our lineup as the season goes on and working to build on a large group of returning wrestlers from last year.”

Meanwhile, Hollis Brookline is experiencing a bowling explosion, with 35 bowlers on the roster, the majority of them new.

“We’re excited,” Cavs coach Erin Robbins said, “to see so much excitement around our sport.

“We lost 12 seniors from last year, so we are most looking forward to a season of growth and improvement.”

In the pool, there are some top competitors at the top for the Cavaliers, who will be looking to build some depth for coach Bob Ouellette, both in the boys and girls ranks.

HOLLIS BROOKLINE GIRLS BASKETBALL

COACH: Bob Murphy (ninth season).

LAST SEASON: 15-5, lost to Lebanon in Division II finals.

RETURNING

STARTERS: Elizabeth Atkinson, 6-1, jr., forward; Joanna Balsamo, 5-8, sr., forward; Brodie Kelley, 5-8, jr., guard.

OTHER RETURNING PLAYERS: Elizabeth Bonnette, 5-10, so., forward; Christina Balsamo, 5-6, soph., guard; Amanda Goclowski, 5-8, soph., forward; Kelly Willett, 5-5, jr., guard.

PROMISING

NEWCOMERS: Lily McAdams, frosh., guard; Brooke Allanach, fr., guard; Abbey Magnuszewski, fr., guard; Maddie Harley, fr., guard.

HOLLIS BROOKLINE WRESTLING

HEAD COACH: Brian Bumpus

LAST YEAR’S

RESULTS: 9-7, Seventh in Div. II

RETURNING

VARSITY STARTERS: Cameron Dreyer, Sr., 120/126; Dan Delong, Jr., 126/132; Scott Anneser, Jr., 145/152; Cameron Lapierre, Sr., 152/160, Tyler St. Pierre, Jr., 152/160; Zack Brickner, Jr., 160/170, Sam Koch, Jr., 182, Owen MacMillan, Jr., 195/220; Clement Sherwood, Sr., 195/220

TOP RETURNERS:

Dreyer, Div. II runner-up; Delong, fourth in Div. II; Anneser, fifth in Div. II; Brickner, third in Div. II; Sherwood, Div. II runner-up

HOLLIS BROOKLINE BOWLING

COACH: Erin Robbins (fourth season).

LAST SEASON: Eighth overall, lost to Goffstown in semis.

RETURNING

BOWLERS: Nic Vahe, so.; Johnny Cadario, so.; Camden Guay, so.; Holly Cardoza, jr.;Skylar Mack, jr.

PROMISING

NEWCOMERS: Ben LaFontaine, so.; Jake Webb, so.

HOLLIS BROOKLINE BOYS & GIRLS

SWIMMING

COACH: Bob Ouellette (19th season), Elissa McCormick (fourth season).

TOP RETURNING SWIMMERS: Jamison Muckstadt, Alex Meagher, Maya Ruvido, Mary Martin.