GREEN COVE SPRINGS - Clay High's competitive cheerleading squad advanced directly to the FHSAA Competitive Cheerleading state championship round set for Thursday and Friday, Jan. 22-23 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland with Fleming Island and Middleburg both advancing but having to get past the state semifinal rounds to cheer for the state title.

Clay, the defending Medium Co-Ed state champion, now in the Small Co-Ed division, scored 70.50 points to earn their ticket directly into the championship finals with St. Augustine, with 62.70 points getting the second-place ticket into the state semifinal round.

Fleming Island, in the Medium Co-Ed division, finished second to Choctawhatchee to earn their state semifinal berth with Choctawhatchee scoring 79.05 and Fleming Island scoring 74.50. Navarre finished third with 72.00 points and also earn a berth in the semifinals.

Middleburg, in the Medium Non-Tumbling division, scored 65.80 to finish sixth and earn a berth in that semifinal with Baldwin and Flagler Palm Coast both getting to the finals and Bradford, West Nassau, Bishop Kenny and Pensacola Washington. Ridgeview and Oakleaf were in the Game Day division and finished 15th and 18th, respectively, but did not advance to the state meet.