MOULTRIE — Even without their top two gymnasts, defending state champion Colquitt County finished fifth at the area meet held at Lovett School on Saturday and will advance to the state championships that begin at 7 p.m. next Friday at Westminster Schools in Atlanta.

The Lady Packers scored a 106.395.

“I was sweating it,” said coach Donna Marshall. “But they came through.”

Colquitt County performed without two team members who were instrumental in the school’s first state championship last year. Meghan Marshall is injured and out for the year and Leah May was in Mississippi competing in a USAG Regional event.

But Colquitt County’s “Fab Four” of Rachel Dampier, Kambria Blakely, Arrienne Miller and Kaitlin Tucker did what was necessary to compete another day.

“Rachel and Kambria both qualified on all around and on three events,” Donna Marshall said.