The Ware County Gator Weight Lifting Teams turned in an outstanding showing at the 2026 GACA Lee Murray State Weight Lifting Competition, as the Lady Gators earned a 3rd-place team finish and the Ware County boys captured back-to-back state championships.
With strong performances across nearly every weight class, Ware County’s lifters once again proved they belong among the best programs in the state. The boys used a dominant all-around effort to secure another team title, while the girls stacked points throughout the competition to bring home a third-place finish.
Boys Bring Home Another State Championship
The Ware County boys were powered by a long list of top finishers and individual champions, helping the Gators claim their second straight state title.
Individual Champions for the Gators
Ware County had first-place finishes from:
Keagan Lee - 140-pound class, 450 total pounds
Deonte Thomas - 150-pound class, 470 total pounds
Jaden McKelvin - 160-pound class, 500 total pounds
Ashton Williams - 170-pound class, 535 total pounds
Terron Birden - 180-pound class, 565 total pounds
Dominique Mackey - 190-pound class, 570 total pounds
Jamarion Keyhea - 205-pound class, 565 total pounds
Tayshaun Franklin - 225-pound class, 600 total pounds
Damarius Dennis - Heavyweight, 665 total pounds
Other Boys Point Scorers and Top Finishers
Ware County also received key finishes from:
Brodie Burchett - 3rd, 140
Christopher McKelvin - 4th, 140
Charles Sams - 3rd, 150
Cam King - 4th, 150
Noah Lyons - 3rd, 160
Pokey Barkley - 4th, 160
Jawuan LeBlanc - 3rd, 170
Jimmy Taylor - 6th, 170
Ja’Qavius Owens - 3rd, 180
Masiyer “Moo Moo” McKoy - 5th, 180
Ja’Londi O’Hara - 6th, 180
Jamir Boyd - 3rd, 190
Luke Hinley - 4th, 190
Emmitt Vining - 5th, 190
Chaden Carter - 3rd, 205
Bryson McNamee - 4th, 205
Teshaun Wilson - 4th, 225
Colin Watson - 5th, 225
Will Hines - 3rd, 245
Carlos White - 5th, 245
Jordan Jenkins - 6th, 245
Cason Hall - 3rd, Heavyweight
Kobe Lee - 5th, Heavyweight
That kind of depth across the board helped Ware County separate itself and finish on top once again.
Lady Gators Finish Third in the State
The Lady Gators also put together a tremendous performance, battling their way to a third-place team finish against a strong state field.
Ware County’s girls were led by several top-three finishers and a number of point-scoring performances.
Top Lady Gator Finishers
Millie Bennett - 2nd, 140-pound class, 270 total pounds
Aubrie Roberson - 3rd, 140-pound class, 260 total pounds
Nevaeh Norton - 3rd, 135-pound class, 265 total pounds
Lyla Evans - 3rd, 145-pound class, 270 total pounds
A’Treasue White - 3rd, 165-pound class, 260 total pounds
Kayleigh LeMay - 4th, Unlimited, 305 total pounds
Kaydance Richardson - 4th, 155-pound class, 260 total pounds
Nadya Ellis - 4th, 120-pound class, 245 total pounds
Kiriana Bolds - 5th, 130-pound class, 285 total pounds
Mattie Forsyth - 5th, 185-pound class, 265 total pounds
Maggie McQuaig - 6th, 110-pound class, 205 total pounds
Paislee Wildes - 6th, 120-pound class, 240 total pounds
Charmaine Farrell - 6th, 135-pound class, 235 total pounds
Jayla Evans - 6th, 145-pound class, 255 total pounds
Ameria Burse - 5th, 165-pound class, 245 total pounds
Additional Lady Gator Results
Ware County also got strong efforts from:
Cassidy Lee - 12th, 110
Claria Devane - 13th, 110
Azian Smith - 5th, 120
Marlee Livingstone - 11th, 130
Ava Musgrove - 14th, 130
Karaline Oliver - 12th, 135
Reagan Middleton - 5th, 140
Karalee Oliver - 7th, 145
Nyemah Wallace - 8th, 155
Ameria Burse - 5th, 165
Ella Musgrove - 8th, 185
Janiya Lane - 16th, 185
Brooklyn Williams - 11th, Unlimited
Strong Showing from Start to Finish
From individual champions to valuable team points in nearly every class, the 2026 GACA Lee Murray State Weight Lifting Competition was another banner day for Ware County.
The boys added another trophy to the case with back-to-back state championships, and the Lady Gators showed their strength and depth with a third-place finish of their own. Together, the two teams once again represented Ware County with pride and established the Gators as one of the premier weight lifting programs in the state.
For more photos and results, please click the link below.
3/7/2026: 2026 GACA Lee Murray Weight Lifting Championships
