Coach Nell Hess didn’t expect the Sequoyah girls swimming team to place fifth at the Class A-AAAAA state meet.

She didn’t expect them to crack the top 10.

“I’m not saying that to disparage the swimmers,” Hess said. “I just know that the competition out there is really tough. When you have that many kids competing and making it to state throughout the state of Georgia, it is really tough to achieve a high level there.”

However, with eight swimmers reaching the finals of the state meet at Georgia Tech, Sequoyah rose to the occasion. Each of the Lady Chiefs’ swimmers posted times better than those they used to qualify.

“We just had some people in key positions, and then they did so well in their events,” Hess said. “That is what made us do well at state. We were running second and third for a while, but I knew, once we got to back and breaststroke, we were going to be a little bit behind. Still, the fact that we came out fifth of 67 teams was just unbelievable to us. We were really, really excited.”

For leading the Lady Chiefs to a program-best finish at the state meet, Hess is the 2014-15 Cherokee Tribune Girls Swimming Coach of the Year.

“I don’t ever think along those lines, because it really is about the kids,” Hess said. “It is truly and honor. I really hope that it all reflects on the Sequoyah program and the Sequoyah swimmers. They are the ones that deserve the credit. I can’t get in the water and do it for them.”

Etowah coach Virginia Diederich thought Hess was deserving of the award.

“Her girls scoring fifth in state was a remarkable accomplishment,” Diederich said.

Hess said it is hard enough for swimmers to qualify for state, let alone place. To have a large enough group not only qualify, but place well enough to score points, takes a total team effort. Hess said she could not coach her team as well as she does without the help from her assistants, Miriam Greene and Pam Hess.

“It’s hard not being at the same school that you coach at,” said Nell Hess, who teaches at the Hickory Flat Elementary School, adjacent to the Sequoyah campus. “Miriam Greene does a great job helping me out getting the paperwork out. I would be a basket case without her helping me out there. This year, we brought on my daughter, Pam, a former swimmer of the year and swam for (East Carolina), and it’s been great having a former college swimmer coaching on deck because she can relate to these kids.”

Sequoyah overcame youth and injury to succeed. The bulk of the team were either freshmen or sophomores, and one of the few veterans, Rachel Pelzek, struggled with mononucleosis and a fractured kneecap during the season.

“You just don’t know what can happen,” Hess said. “I knew that the potential was there to have some really great swimmers.”

Hess saw freshmen like Kristina Friedrichs, Jordan Weems and Rachel Renner set records and score points throughout the season. Friedrichs, Weems and Renner also contributed to the Lady Chiefs’ tally at the state meet.

Friedrichs set a new team record in the 50-yard freestyle, with a time of 24.11 seconds. At the state meet, she placed in the 50 free (sixth) and 100 free (eighth) and contributed on relays that placed third and sixth.

Weems was 17th in the 500 free, while Renner placed sixth in diving. Sophomore Kamryn Carter placed third in the 100 butterfly and 11th in the 200 IM.

Hess said she is excited about the group that will be coming back next season.

“That fact that I have some kids coming back that did fantastic is very exciting,” Hess said. “They represent Sequoyah so well.”

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