NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Seven local wrestlers will make the trip to North Andover, Massachusetts today for the first day of the 51st annual New England Interscholastic Wrestling Championships.

Wells’ Michael Curtis, who won the 220-pound weight class at the Maine qualifier two weeks ago, will be the top seed at New Englands, which consists of wrestlers from Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Joining Curtis in the 220-pound bracket will be Massabesic’s Mike Risti, who took second to Curtis at the qualifier.

Risti will have some company as two of his teammates also qualified for the tournament in Leo Amabile (106) and Zach Richard (145).

Biddeford sends two wrestlers to the tournament, which starts at 5:15 p.m. today, as both Dominick Day (152) and Austin Burnham (285) qualified with second-place finishes at the Maine qualifier.

Rounding out the local contingent is Sanford’s Chase Eldridge, who took third at 170 pounds two weeks ago to punch his ticket to New Englands.

It will be a loaded field of wrestlers as seven past individual champions will be competing. Several powerhouse schools will also challenge for the team crown, including two-time defending champion Mount Anthony of Vermont and Timberlane (New Hampshire) High School, which has won a record 10 team titles. Marshwood, which has seven wrestlers qualified, should represent Maine’s best chance to capture the team trophy.

Two championship rounds and one consolation round will be wrestled tonight and the tournament will wrap up with the medal-round matches at 5:15 p.m. on Saturday.