FRANKLIN - The Long County Blue Tide weightlifting team had a great showing at the 2025 GACA Lee Murray State Weightlifting Championships this past weekend. Eight Tide athletes took home state championships in their weight class at the meet at Heard County High School on Saturday, March 1.
Twenty-one total athletes placed in the top-six of their weight class Saturday, with the girls having seven make the podium and the boys having 14 make it.
For the girls, three won the state championship of their weight class, with Amiyah Raimer (130), Janiya Williams (135) and Trinity Mook (185) taking home state titles.
Joining them on the podium were Aleena Clark (110) in fifth place, Hollie Filkins (145) in third place, and Sala Tiapula and Emma Pfiester (185+) in second and fifth place.
Williams won the state championship in her class for the second straight year and also won the Lee Murray for being the strongest pound for pound lifter in the state with 345 total pounds lifted.
The girls team took third place overall, competing against all schools in the state competition. They finished behind Ware County and Villa Rica.
For the boys, 14 took the podium, with five taking the state championship and three winning their second straight titles.
Devon Williams (150), Jaeson Carryl (170), Cortney Charles (190), De’Undre Woods (205), and Jordan Williams (245+) all won the state championship in their individual weight classes. Carryl, Devon Williams and Jordan Williams all won their second straight championship.
Joining them on the podium were Andre Mills (140) in second place, Jaeden Parker (150) in fourth place, Lamaree Clark (160) in sixth place, Wesley Williams (170) in fifth place, Jason Familia and Taven Thomas (180) in second and fourth place, Tusiofo Tiapula (205) in fifth place, Chris Hatfield (225) in sixth place and Wyatt Walters (245) in third place.
The boys team took third place in AAA, their second straight top three finish as a team. They finished behind West Laurens and Lagrange.
Williams won the Lee Murray Award for the highest weight total lifted in all of AAA with 675 pounds.
