MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County High gymnastics team would like to improve on its sixth-place finish at last year’s state meet, but it faces a tough qualifying competition today just to get that chance.

The Lady Packers will head to Lovett School in Atlanta today to compete in one of three state qualifying meets.

The top two finishers in each of the three meets will advance to the state meet, to be held next Friday at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta.

Colquitt has performed well in its three meets this season and will need another strong effort today.

“We are in the toughest area for the team competition,” said coach Donna Marshall. “There are several other teams who have scored a 108.

“We need to have a clean meet with few mistakes. Only the top two teams will advance to state, so it is critical that we do well.”

The team includes Arrienne Miller, Meghan Marshall, Crystal Blizzard, Leah May, Temira Davis, Kaitlin Tucker, Krista Wood and Rachel Dampier.

Marshall was third at the state meet in the vault and fourth in the floor exercise last year.

Four girls from each team will compete in each event and two will compete all around.

Roswell is the defending state champion, turning in a 107.525 to edge Lassiter, which had a 107.400.

Colquitt County scored a 101.575 at state last season.

“Our beam routines will be our deciding factor,” Marshall said. “We need to make sure that we are solid on that event.

“We have the potential to make it, but we have to be focused so everyone gives 100 percent.”