Castaneda Posts 3 Wins to Advance to Semifinals : High schools: Alemany 103-pounder comes back from deficits in two matches. Agoura’s Burns, previously undefeated, falls early.

They came, they saw this wouldn’t be easy--and they didn’t know the half of it.

Of 11 area wrestlers entered in the state wrestling finals Friday at University of the Pacific, only Alemany High sophomore James Castaneda (103 pounds) and Agoura High senior Sean Burns (171) are still wrestling after the first day of the two-day tournament.

However, Burns, who entered the meet with a record of 45-0 after placing first at the Southern Section Division I and Masters meets, was eliminated from the championship round by virtue of a 5-4 first-round loss to Travis Mills of Clovis West.

Castaneda (43-1), Southern Section Division IV champion and runner-up at Masters, recorded three hard-fought victories to advance to today’s championship semifinals.

“I knew it was going to be tough up here, so I trained hard all week,” said Castaneda, who will face Damon Broadbent of Elsinore today at 10 a.m.

That extra effort might have made the difference.

Castaneda had to overcome third-period deficits in two matches and narrowly defeated Javier Lopez of Orland, 5-3, in the championship quarterfinals by recording a two-point takedown with eight seconds remaining.

Castaneda trailed, 3-0, after one period and did not pull even until only 51 seconds remained. “He’s in shape, the other kid wasn’t,” Alemany Coach Dennis Henderson said. “That’s when he scores most of his points, in the third period.”

Burns led Mills, 4-0, entering the third period, but was stunned by a maneuver by Mills that resulted in Burns being deposited on his back for the first time this season.

“He threw his leg in while I was standing up,” Burns said. “I had no balance.”

As a result, Burns was forced to compete in three consolation matches. He won them all, defeating Brendan Leatham of San Dieguito (9-1), Willie Herron of Bakersfield Highland (7-0) and Joe Salcido of Monache (5-0).

Others were simply overwhelmed.

Twins Armando and Fernando Avila of Chatsworth, City Section champions at 135 and 140 pounds, were eliminated after two lopsided defeats.

Armando was pinned twice, by Kevin Scanlon of Miramonte in 3:02 and by Ron Cravens of Hesperia in 5:19. Fernando was pinned by Josh Ichord of Hughson in 3:16, then lost to Brandon Bowman of Anderson by a technical pin (17-0).

Canoga Park’s Jose Barahona (119) and Phil Duffield (189), both City champions, also were winless in two matches.

David Duran of El Camino Real, City champion at 125, forfeited two matches after weighing in a quarter-pound over the limit. Others eliminated included Cisco Gerardo of Simi Valley (125) and Jerry Escoto of Channel Islands (103), both first-round winners.

Canoga Park’s Rafael Palacios (145) and Keith Jardine (heavyweight) were eliminated after consolation-round losses.