HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING STATE MEET : Stellar Seasons End in Disappointment for Alemany’s Castaneda, Agoura’s Burns

The only thing Alemany High’s James Castaneda and Agoura’s Sean Burns were concerned with was winning.

Consequently, both wrestlers were disappointed by the way their seasons came to an end Saturday in the state wrestling meet at University of the Pacific’s Spanos Center.

Castaneda, who won his first three matches a day earlier in the 103-pound class, was defeated in the championship semifinals by Damon Broadbent of Elsinore, 3-0, ending his bid for a state title.

Castaneda, a sophomore and the Southern Section Division IV champion, placed fifth, finishing with a 44-3 record.

Burns, who was eliminated from the 171-pound championship round Friday, lost his first match Saturday and was eliminated from competition. Burns did not finish among the top eight.

After losing to Broadbent, whom he defeated in overtime, 6-5, in the Southern Section Masters meet, Castaneda, his right eye discolored and swollen, wept in anguish. “I’m disappointed in myself,” he said. “I felt like there was nothing else except first.”

In a hard-fought match, Broadbent recorded an early takedown and held off Castaneda’s desperate attempts to recover.

Castaneda also lost, 8-6, against Steve Abas of Canyon Springs in a consolation semifinal. He then defeated Andy Borges of Vacaville, 7-2, for fifth place.

“I’m happy about the future,” said Castaneda, one of six sophomores in the bracket of 32 wrestlers.

Burns, a senior who placed first at the Southern Section Division I and Masters meets, quickly exited from the arena after losing his first match of the day to Joe Salcido of Monache, 10-1. Burns did not score until midway through the third period.

“I was sore, but that really didn’t have a whole lot to do with it,” said Burns, who entered the meet unbeaten and finished 48-2. “I worked myself. I lost my first match to a guy I should have killed.”

Burns, who went 3-2 in the tournament, was defeated by Travis Mills of Clovis West, 5-4, in Friday’s opening round. He then won three consolation matches, wrestling until past 10 p.m.

The match Saturday began at 9:30 a.m., and Burns quickly appeared overwhelmed.

“He was a little sluggish today,” Agoura Coach Steve Smith said. “He felt good last night, but he had to wrestle three matches.”

Nine of 11 wrestlers from the region entered in the state meet were eliminated Friday.

Jose Barahona (119) of Canoga Park, David Duran (125) of El Camino Real, Armando Avila (135) and Fernando Avila (140) of Chatsworth, and Phil Duffield (189) of Canoga Park all were eliminated by losing their first two matches.

Jerry Escoto (103) of Channel Islands, Cisco Gerardo (125) of Simi Valley, Rafael Palacios (145) of Canoga Park and Keith Jardine (heavyweight) of Canoga Park were eliminated after consolation-round losses.

* STATE MEET COVERAGE: C10