LOUISVILLE — Three members of the Long County Blue Tide brought home gold medals at the 2022 Lee Murray State Weightlifting Championships on Saturday, March 12. All six members of the team brought home medals at the competition.

After qualifying for the state meet at the area meet on Friday, Feb 25, Seniors Tony Phillips, Josiah Ansorena-Smith and Patrick Wilson all won the gold medal for their respective class.

Ansorena-Smith won out of the 151-160, Phillips out of the 181-190 weight class, and Wilson out of the 246 and up weight class. Wilson had the second highest total at the area competition to qualify for the state meet.

Joining the three gold medalists were senior Jayson Mack, junior Jaevion Felton, and sophomore Steven Quintero. Mack finished third in the 206-225 class, Felton was the runner-up in the 141-150 class, and Quintero finished fifth in the 161-170 class.

The three state championships are the first ever in weightlifting in school history and only the second state championship overall at Long County, joining former track star Travon Phillips, older brother of Tony.