MOULTRIE — Devin Corgan’s 35.775 was enough to place her ninth all-around at the USA Gymnastics Region VIII Championships held at Life University in Marietta, GA, and earned her a place in the USAG Level 9 Eastern Nationals to be held April 21-23 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

It will be the Valdosta High School junior’s second trip to Easterns.

The recently crowned Georgia USAG state vault champion added a region floor championship, scoring a 9.425 and earned a silver medal on vault by scoring a 9.275.

“I know that Devin was excited and proud of her first on floor, but I also know she wanted to win vault at this meet for a second year in a row,” Moultrie YMCA coach Bob Swadel said.

“She was only .025 out of first. She did a powerful vault and her floor had all of the coaches talking.”

Corgan added an 8.825 on bars and fell on her beam dismount and scored a disappointing 8.25.

“Beam has been a problem for us all season,” Swadel said. “We need to find an answer before Nationals.

“Not just Devin, the whole team has struggled this year on that one event. We are very strong on floor and vault and our bars are getting better every meet.”

Meghan Marshall took home a fourth place medal for her excellent 9.35 on floor and her 9.05 on vault placed fifth.

“The floor competition was so close, that a small balance bobble while landing a bonus value jump series probably cost Meghan a gold medal,” Swadel said. “She did a beautiful routine with one small, but very costly error. The crowd and the judges loved her routine.”

Leah May missed Regionals in 2005 because of an injury, but made a strong bid to qualify for the 2006 Eastern Nationals, scoring a 34.825 all-around in Atlanta.

She placed 10th on bars (9.0) and 8th on floor with a 9.3 and added a strong 8.9 on vault.

Like teammate Corgan, May’s nemesis was the beam, in which she scored a 7.625.

“Leah has been solid on three out of four events at the state and regional meets, but that four inch wide beam has been a real challenge,” Swadel said.

“She has several high school meets and our invitational in May to build her confidence. Leah is a fighter and she works very hard at practice. She’ll figure it out.”

After spring break, Marshall and May will lead their Colquitt County High School team into its final high school meet before the GHSA Area Qualifier at the Lovett School in Atlanta.

The three area meets, which are held on April 21, determine which teams and individuals move on to the April 28 state meet.

The Lady Packers’ April 12 home meet will be held at the Donald A. Blevins Gymnastics Center at the Moultrie YMCA.

The Colquitt County girls will play host to teams from Thomas County Central, Tift County, Bainbridge, Cairo and Brantley County.