TIFTON — For Morgan Jones the third time was indeed the charm. However, the first and second time were also quite nice.

Jones, a Tift County Lady Devil senior, captured her third straight state all-around gymnastics championship over the weekend in Atlanta.

“I am very excited, and happy I get to go out on a good note,” said Jones.

After barely missing out on the all-around state title as a freshman, Jones now has three straight state championships. The Tift senior also captured three state titles in individual events, which gives her a total of nine state championships in two years.

Jones won this year by a slim margin over Leah May of Colquitt County, 38.5 to 38.025.

“There was a lot more competition this year. The girls were all very talented,” said Jones.

In the individual events, Jones was first in the vault with a score of 9.725, as well as in the beam, 9.5. Her other state title for an individual event came in the floor, 9.775.

The Tift senior finished third in the bar with a score of 9.5.

Lady Devils gymnastics coach Marci Honeycutt was happy for her star to get to go out with another championship.

“This win was the best one yet. I was thrilled for Morgan to win state not because it was the third time, but because she was a senior and I wanted her to leave with the feeling of victory — which she did,” said Honeycutt. “She is an awesome athlete and person and she deserves everything she achieved.”

The third state title is the last time Jones will perform as a gymnast. She has a scholarship to be a competitive cheerleader at Mississippi State University.