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Damian Calhoun. Sports Newsroom Assistant.

// MORE INFORMATION: Associate Mug Shot taken August 24, 2010 : by KATE LUCAS, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

WESTMINSTER – If the first day of the CIF-SS Coastal Division Individual Championships proved one thing, it was that there will not be an easy path to the overall team title.

Trabuco Hills left the gym at Westminster High on Friday with 107.5 points and the lead. Laguna Hills was in second with 105.5, followed by Calvary Chapel (99), Arroyo (88) and Santa Ana (83).

The Mustangs have 11 wrestlers competing today – four in championship semifinals and seven in consolation matches. Brian Hernandez (120), Trey Munoz (126), Matt Roxas (132) and Cody Burdette (160) advanced to the semifinals.

Laguna Hills also has 11 (four in semifinals, seven in consolation). Calvary Chapel has five in the semifinals and three in consolation.

Wrestling resumes today at 11 a.m. The championship semifinals are scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m.

The medal matches will take place at 4 p.m. The top five in each weight class will advance to next week’s CIF-SS Masters Meet at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario.

“To be honest, Palm Desert scares me the most,” Trabuco Hills coach Kurt Mitthof said. “They have five horses that can make it into the finals.”

Palm Desert ended the first day in ninth place with 71 points, but has five in the semifinals, including two brothers, Troy (145) and Anthony Mantanona (170).

Santa Ana (three in the semifinals, six in the consolation) and Palm Desert won their CIF divisions last year, so they’re familiar with having strong second days.

“Palm Desert has the five guys and that’s a lot of points,” Mitthof said. “It is going to be a battle … it is going to be close between a few teams.”

The tournament will be won or lost by the wrestlers’ ability in the consolation rounds to fight back and score points.

“That’s the chance for a lot of bonus points,” Mitthof said. “It is going to take that kind of effort.”

Calvary Chapel’s chances will hinge on their semifinal quintet of Easton Amuro (106), Luciano Arroyo (120), Elijah Palacio (126), Gustavo Mello (145) and Nathan Zotea (152). That group went 15-0 on the first day, winning 12 of their matches by fall.

Contact the writer: dcalhoun@scng.com