Cody Thorn
CYPRESS — Jaden Machado, based on rankings, is the most improbable champion in the Class 5A boys UIL State Wrestling Championships.
The senior from Lancaster won the 138-pound title with a 9-6 decision over Carter McLaughlin of Whitehouse.
That was also, perhaps the unlikeliest of matchups, in both Class 6A and 5A during the event held Friday and Saturday at The Berry Center of Northwest Houston.
The showdown in the finals was the No. 5-ranked Machado and the No. 14-ranked McLaughlin.
The other 13 finals in Class 5A featured a No. 1-ranked wrestler but Machado dispatched top-ranked Jaydn Johnson of Melissa in a thrilling 15-13 win in the semifinals.
“It happens every year, people get upset,” Machado said. “It is good motivation to be ranked so low.”
That upset set the stage for a title later that night….
