The Colquitt County High gymnastics team includes, front, from left, coaches Mary Ann Phillips, Patti Wier and Stacie Connell; back, Clara Gene Vines, Jordan Yates, Evelyn Fagan, Timia Fowler, Auburn Williams, Allison Fagan, Sammie Phillips and Jaycee Ellenberg.

MOULTRIE — The Colquitt County varsity gymnastics team opened its season at home with a win on Friday the 13th.

The Lady Packers placed first overall with a 108.60. Also in the field were Bainbridge, which scored a 103.7; Camden County, 99.6; Lowndes, 97.9; Thomas County Central, 67.8; and Tift County, 66.0.

The Lady Pack has qualified as a team for the area qualifying meet and several girls qualified individually.

Leading the Lady Packers was senior Sammie Phillips with an all around score of 36.9.

Phillips placed second on vault with a 9.3, and fifth on bars with an 8.9. She took first place on beam with a 9.3 and on floor with a 9.4.

Phillips has a long body, which makes watching her perform so interesting, coach Patti Wier said.

The highlight of her meet was her back tuck on beam. It was perfect and her face said it all after she stuck it, Wier said.

“Her leadership is going to be a huge asset to this team,” Wier said. “She is supportive to all her teammates and does whatever she can to help them be successful. She is going to play a major role in the road to State with her leadership and her difficulty of routines.”

Sophomore Evelyn Fagan was next to lead the Lady Pack with an all-around score of 35.7.

Fagan was a big contributor to the team as a freshman and proving to be even more this year. She placed third on vault with 9.3, second on beam with 8.7, and fourth on floor with an 8.6. The best event was bars. Fagan placed first with a 9.1.

“This was a major accomplishment for her and it definitely was a confidence booster,” Wier said. “She too is also expected to help lead the Lady Packers to State as a team and qualify for an individual event.”

Freshman Jordan Yates has shown that she is going to be a valuable member, scoring an all-around of 35.6. She had a strong vault scoring a 9.2 placing fourth. On bars, Yates scored a 9.0; beam, 8.6; and floor 8.8, placing third on all three events.

Yates “has matured in all her skills since middle school. She has struggled with her back so it’s great to see her competing all four events. I look for her to be instrumental in leading the Lady Packers to state,” Wier said.

Gradually coming back from two ACL surgeries is sophomore Timia Fowler. This was her first high school meet and she competed just three events, but she was still able to score a 27.0 all-around. Fowler also competed for the first time her Yurchenko vault, giving her 1st place with a 9.7.

“She makes one of the most difficult vaults looks so easy,” Wier said.

“She was so excited when she stuck it. It was emotional to see her compete knowing the struggles she has had to overcome.”

She placed 2nd on bars with a 9.1, and that was with missing a superior dismount. On beam, Fowler placed fifth with an 8.2.

“She is already benefitting her team and by the time the Lady Pack competes Wednesday in Thomasville, she is expected to compete all four events,” Wier said.

Senior Allison Fagan “always competes with such beauty,” Wier said.

Her form is her strength. On beam she scored a 7.9 and on bars a 7.0.

“No matter what the skill is, she is always going to do it gracefully,” Wier said, adding that  Fagan is a hard worker and also team leader.

“She supports her team in any way she can, and always wants what’s best for the team,” Wier said. “She has been a blessing to coach all four years. Hopefully by the Tifton meet, Fagan will be ready to compete floor. No matter what, Fagan will always give her all whatever you ask of her.”

Senior Clara Gene Vines competed only vault, scoring an 8.6.

Wier said Vines is a great tumbler and twister, and it shows in her vaults. She has potential to increase her difficulty on vault.

“This year we decided to focus on this event to increase her difficulty which will increase her score,” Wier said. “Hopefully by the area meet she will have reached that difficulty and be a contender on vault. She is another one that is great to coach. She will do whatever is needed of her no matter.”

Senior Jaycee Ellenberg also competed vault only.

Wier said Ellenberg works hard on her vaults and is another gymnast who easy to coach and works hard to correct the corrections she is given.

“This was one of the best opening season meets the Lady Packers have had,” Wier said. “Having a full healthy team makes a huge difference.

Already having qualified as a team for the area meet, three all around qualifying, and six individual events makes for a great opener.”

She said that next month the goal is to qualify more individual events and build the confidence needed to have a great area meet and make it to the state meet.

The Lady Packers next meet is today against Thomas County Central, Bainbridge, Tift County and Lowndes.