Hollis Brookline's Caden Bruseo (top) and Bishop Guertin's James Algeo will be competing against each other again this season, which begins tonight for both teams in their respective gyms. (Telegraph photo by TOM KING)

The spotlight will be on, the mats will be out, and the fans will be in the stands.

Welcome to the 2024-25 local high school wrestling season, which begins with a few dual meets.

There are some changes, first at Nashua South, where longtime coach Adam Langlois stepped down surprisingly a few days before the first day of practice due to family and time constraints. His assistant the last three years Anthony Spero has taken over, and South alum (2017 grad) Tyler Linscott has been added as an assistant.

Souhegan, which was a contender the last couple of years in Division III, has returned to Division II, to go along with locals Bishop Guertin, Hollis Brookline, Milford, Alvirne and Merrimack.

Here’s a look at how things could shape up:

DIVISION II

We’ll start here because it has the most locals, and again you have to have your eyes on Bishop Guertin, second to Goffstown last year, and another traditional favorite Hollis Brookline, which won it two years ago.

“At this time we’ll probably be a better tournament team than a dual meet team,” said Cards coach Paul Rousseau, who opens up tonight at home vs. city rival Nashua South. “Either way we’re looking forward to another exciting season.”

Guertin’s got the big guy, sophomore Bishop Kearns, at 285 to go with juniors Austin Steinruck (126) and Jack Foster (150), plus senior Liam Connerty (190) and sophomore James Algeo (132) as notables.

The Cavaliers, who took third last year after two straight titles, should be very strong having lost just one to graduation. Their key wrestlers include Jameson Keller (senior) and Gavin Turcotte (junior) at 120, sophomore Aiden Smith-Nightingale (120/126), senior Caden Bruseo (138/144), senior Daniel Frixione (144/150), junior Jake Critchfield (157) and junior Dylan Manley (165/175).

“We’ll be looking to build off of last year and hope to remain competitive in Division II,” Cavs coach Brian Bumpus said.

Alvirne has last year’s Telegraph Wrestler of the Year, Shawn Boudreau, eligible to return as a senior after a fantastic football season, and Cam Steed should be back as well. Milford should also be a contender despite losing some key seniors, as eligible to return were Eli Wales and senior Noah Kittredge,

Merrimack is still building its program up. “A smaller team than last season,” Tomahawks coach Bryan Dine said, “but we can fill more weights and we’re looking to improve with a group of dedicated returning athletes.”

That includes senior Avary Bernardinelli at 126, who was second in the girls Meet of Champions. Senior Connor Sayball should make a lot of noise at 132 and junior Landon Schultz is back to wrestle at 138. Keep an eye, too, on freshman Owen Sayball (Connor’s brother).

DIVISION I

Spero will inherit a young team, with one of their two New England wrestlers back, Mia Baez. Captains Connor Whitman (senior), Benny Byrne (junior) and Ian McCubrey (sophomore) will lead the way, with the rest of the roster chock full of freshmen and sophomores.

Nashua North will also look to try to improve; the Titans did have a good year last year but their best wrestler, Steven Rosario, graduated. But the numbers were up then, so the Titans are hoping to build off of that, as sophomore Owen Gagnon, who was third at 106 last year is eligible to return, as would be junior Caleb Smith and senior Gavin Page. All three made it to the Meet of Champions last year.

DIVISION III

Campbell will have the luxury of having one of the best wrestlers in the division, Logan Allaire, back, and have some depth this season. They already began with a routs over Franklin and Newport.

TONIGHT

Here’s tonight’s season-opening reults:

Bedford at Nashua North, 5:30 p.m.

Merrimack at Souhegan, 6 p.m.

Kingswood at Milford, 6 p.m.

THURSDAY

Nashua South at Bishop Guertin, 5:30 p.m.

Note: This match was moved from Wednesday due to a concert in the BG Colligadome.