
Ground Strike Lionheart dominated the NEWBREED ALABAMA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP, capturing 15 golds, 11 silvers, and 6 bronzes across 74 divisions on August 15, 2025 in Birmingham. The academy's 32-medal haul nearly doubled the second-place finish of NXG Combat Sports EQUIPE TSUNAMI BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU, which earned 13 golds and 24 total medals. Michael Carter Jr (Orange belt, Rating 6329) from Freedom Jiu-Jitsu Collective led individual performers with three gold medals, while Weslin Phillips (White belt, Rating 4199) and Owen Lane Winslett (Grey belt, Rating 4134) each captured three golds for American Top Team Tuscaloosa and Ground Strike Lionheart respectively.
The 240 total matches produced a 53% submission rate, exceeding New Breed's 48% season average by 5 percentage points—126 submissions versus 106 decisions by points. The youth white MIDDLEWEIGHT (71-80 LBS.) gi division emerged as the tournament's deepest bracket with 6 placements across 74 total divisions. The submission-heavy results reflect a technical field across 26 academies competing in the state championship format.
Ground Strike Lionheart's dominance extended beyond medal count: the academy won 15 of 80 total golds awarded (19%) and fielded consistent medal-winners across multiple weight classes. Gracie Barra's two Alabama locations (Jasper and Pelham) combined for 10 golds and 15 total medals, establishing the lineage as the second-strongest program presence. American Top Team Tuscaloosa finished third with 7 golds but produced two of the tournament's highest-rated individual champions in Weslin Phillips, demonstrating deep talent concentration despite lower overall team placement.
| # | Academy | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ground Strike Lionheart | 14 | 10 | 6 | 30 |
| 2 | NXG Combat Sports EQUIPE TSUNAMI BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU | 12 | 8 | 1 | 21 |
| 3 | Gracie Barra Jasper-AL GRACIE BARRA | 6 | 10 | 3 | 19 |
| 4 | American Top Team Tuscaloosa AMERICAN TOP TEAM | 6 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| 5 | Alliance Huntsville ALLIANCE | 4 | 5 | 2 | 11 |
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Entered ranked #105 of 132 by JITS rating(1,026)