Sport
22 May, 2026
Team Lazaros star at state championship
Maryborough’s Team Lazaros BJJ and Muay Thai achieved remarkable results at last weekend’s Victorian Jiu Jitsu Championship, headlined by five gold medals.
After winning an exceptional 15 medals at the state championships last year, six athletes travelled to Parkville’s State Sport Centres to compete at Australia’s longest-running Brazilian Jiu Jitsu event.
Despite their relatively small numbers, Team Lazaros complemented their gold medals with two silvers and five bronzes, finishing with an impressive 12 medals.
Bella Savvidis and Harvey Mitchell had their eyes covered in gold last weekend, with the teenagers winning both of their respective events.
For the second year running, Bella ended a state championship with two golds around her neck, adding to her win in the Girls Gi/ Grey/Teen I with a submission victory in the gold medal match of the Girls No-Gi/Grey/Teen I.
After securing gold in the Boys No-Gi/Grey/Teen II competition, Harvey doubled his medal tally with a submission victory in the Boys Gi/ Grey/Teen II final inside two minutes.
Similarly to Bella, Emma Miller also repeated as a state champion last weekend, triumphing in the Girls Gi/White/Pee Wee III final on points.
Following her memorable 2025 campaign, where she was ranked Australia’s number one Juvenile Girls Gi and No-Gi Blue Jiu Jitsu fighter, Alayla Savvidis stepped up to the adult competition, competing across four events.
Alayla’s best result came in the Female Gi/Blue/Adult bracket. After receiving a bye in the quarter finals, Alayla advanced past the semi-final on points before losing the gold medal match.
After competing in seven matches across the championship, Alayla took home a silver and three bronzes.
Joseph Findlow also took home a silver in the Boys Gi/White/Junior I competition, while Mickey Savvidis rounded out Team Lazaros’ medal tally with two bronzes that included a strong showing in the Boys Gi/ Yellow/Teen III event.