Santa Barbara High’s Pepper Marks and Destiny Marquez of Marina engaged in another close battle on the wrestling mat in Friday’s quarterfinals at the CIF State Championships in Bakersfield.
The wrestlers were tied at 1-1 in the third period before Marquez pulled off a two-point takedown during a scramble and held on for a 3-1 decision at the Mechanics Bank Arena.
Marquez advances to the semifinals of the 235-pound weight class while Marks moves into the consolation bracket, where she still has a shot at third place.
The two-time CIF-SS champion lost a 2-1 decision against Marquez in double overtime in the CIF-SS Masters Meet final last weekend.
Marks will wrestle Sanger’s Yvette Garcia for a place on the podium at 9 a.m. on Saturday. She has to win four matches to finish third.