MOULTRIE — Led by Meghan Marshall and Leah May, the Colquitt County High gymnastics team got its 2006 season off to a strong start by scoring a 108.4 to win its first competition of the season on Friday at the Thomasville YMCA.

Thomas County Central placed second with a 104.8 and Tift County posted a 94.4.

The meet also drew teams from Cairo, Bainbridge and Brantley County.

The Lady Packers will face the same five schools at 5 p.m. Friday in its second meet of the season. The competition will be held at the Dream It Gym in Tifton.

May, a freshman, had an outstanding meet, placing first on beam, with a 9.2, and all around, with a 37.25. She also was second on bars and was third in the floor exercise.

Marshall, a junior, was first on vault with a 9.4 and on floor with a 9.6 and placed third all around wit ha 36.4.

“Her scores on all of the events counted for our team score,” said first-year coach Donna Marshall. “She had two falls on the beam, but we expect to see a flawless beam routine when we meet in Tifton on Friday.”

Two other freshmen had fine performances in their first varsity competitions.

Kaitlyn Tucker had strong scores on bars, beam and floor and her vault scored an 8.75.

“I expect to see her perform a more difficult vault on Friday,” Donna Marshall said.

Rachel Dampier had a strong showing on floor, scoring an 8.50 that counted toward the team score.

“The freshmen on the varsity team really stepped up to the challenge,” Donna Marshall said.

Senior Temira Davis was an all around competitor for the Lady Packers and performed well on vault with a score of 8.65.

Senior Krista Wood injured her thumb in practice on Wednesday, but she was able to score a 9.0 on beam to place second.

She and May were the only two competitors without a fall on beam in the meet.

Sophomore Crystal Blizzard returned this season from a knee injury and an illness and performed a strong vault.

“We plan on seeing her on more events in the line in the near future,” Donna Marshall said.

Arrienne Miller was at the meet and supported her teammates, but she is out with an injury.

Tift County’s Morgan Jones won the bars event and was second all around behind May.