BAKERSFIELD — Hughson’s Yzabella Austin, seeking a fourth consecutive trip to the final, was one of three local grapplers to reach the semifinal round of today’s CIF State Wrestling Championships.

Austin, now just two wins away from a third consecutive state title, was joined in the semis by a pair of Pitman High boys —190-pounder Carter Vannest and 175-pounder Mason Ontiveros.

Only two others of the region’s 20 state qualifiers advanced as far as the quarterfinals: 100-pounder Aliah Bertalotto of Turlock, and Pitman 144-pounder Edward Sheeran.

Austin, the top-seeded 140-pound girl wrestler in the state who wrestled at Pitman until last season, dominated her first three matches. She pinned junior Bella Lyrse (Cypress) after bolting to a 3-0 lead, then pinned Kaitlyn Krenz (Poway) while leading 5-0, and followed that with pin of Sarah Harthorn with 43 second remaining in first period after taking a 3-0 lead on a takedown.

Austin is the state’s reigning 140-pound champ; she won the 130-pound title as a sophomore. She’ll battle No. 5 Gianna Lopez of Peninsula (Rolling Hills Estates) in the semifinals.

No. 2 Dulcy Martinez of Central Catholic (Modesto) faces Sumaya Lazara of Northview (Covina) are still alive in the other half of the bracket.

On the boys side, second-seeded Ontiveros pinned senior Liam Baculi of Stockdale (Bakersfield) in his opener, then pinned Evan Hilmen of Del Oro (Loomis) in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, the SJS Masters champ pinned Efosa Osayande of Peninsula, earning the right to face third-seeded Isai Fernandez of St. John Bosco (Bellflower). In the other semifinal bracket, Poway’s Matt Carini — the 2025 165-pound champ who is ranked No. 1 in the country this season — will face Travis Grace of Gilroy. Ontiveros was the state runner-up at 175 pounds last year.

Vannest, meanwhile scored a 17-1 technical fall over Julio Leia of Trabuco Hills (Mission Viejo), then followed it up with a 19-4 tech fall over Raiden Bishop of Buchanan (Clovis). In the round of 16, the SJS Masters champion registered his third consecutive technical fall, beating William Schindele of El Toro (Lake Forest) 18-1. The third-seeded Vannest beat Noah Daniels of Sheldon (Sacramento) 8-3 in the quarterfinals and will tangle with No. 2 Mason Savidan of St. John Bosco in the semi.

Top-seeded Jonathan Rocha (Clovis North), who finished second in the state at 190 pounds last year, faces Dom Dotson (Poway) in the other semi.