Hollis Brookline out to keep crown

With 13 straight Division I championships and five straight New England titles, the question before this Division I wrestling season isn’t much different than it’s been for a decade. Can anyone stop the Timberlane Express? The answer, with 10 Timberlane starters back from last year’s title team, is no. Once again the battle is for second place. Division II, meanwhile, should be a lot more interesting, like it was last year when Hollis Brookline edged Milford by just three points to capture its second Division II title in five years. The Cavaliers have some big holes to fill, but they also have eight wrestling back who were in the starting lineup last year, including Nate Ashe, the division champion at 182 pounds. He may go up to 195, which would open up 182 for Brian Bumpus, who finished fifth last year at 170. The six senior starters back also include Zach McPherson, who was third last year at 132, Zach Jennings, who was third at 145 and Jonathan Lopez, who was third at 106. Milford returns defending division and Meet of Champions winner Joe Albina, a senior, who could slide up to 182 from 170 last year. The Spartans aren’t as deep in returning wrestlers at Hollis Brookline, but do have junior Scott Dannewitz, who was third last year at 160. Merrimack has eight starters back from a team that finished a solid fourth in last year’s Division II meet, including four wrestlers who finished fourth, Zach Prichard (220), Ben Cronin(113), Kyle Heidbreder (170) and Nick Klaver (285). Alvirne, eight last year in Division II, has seven starters back, including senior Pat Morse, who was second a year ago at 160 and senior Brendan Smith, who finished fifth at 132. Division I might be Timberlane’s domain, but area team are making progress.