Skyline High School girls swimming and diving coach Maureen Issac had high hopes for her team entering this season. After finishing 16th at the 2008 Division 3 MHSAA state finals with a team comprised entirely of freshmen, she figured this year -- with the entire team returning, as well as a new freshman class -- the Eagles had a shot at the top 10.

Issac was right, but as she learned at the state finals at Eastern Michigan on Saturday, she wasn’t nearly optimistic enough. (Complete results)

Behind 7 All-State individual performances and 3 All-State relay team finishes, the Eagles took third place behind East Grand Rapids and Bloomfield Hills Cranbrook-Kingswood.

“That is a huge accomplishment,” Issac said, crediting the selflessness of her team for the result. “Kim Graziano gave up an individual event to swim in three relays, and so we scored in the top 8 of all of our relays because she swam in them, and that was huge.”

Swimmers are only allowed to compete in 4 events at the state finals, and Graziano, a freshman, gave up swimming in the 50 freestyle so she could anchor all three relays because relays are worth twice as many points as individual events.

“She could have been probably top 4 in the 50 yard freestyle, but she gave that up so that all our relays could be top eight,” Issac said.

“Relays score more points so I figured it was best,” said Graziano, who also placed sixth in the 100 freestyle.

Sophomore Lexie Beemer won the 100 breaststroke to become the school’s first ever state champion in any sport.

“At first I didn’t really believe it,” Beemer said, who seemed prouder about her team’s accomplishment than her individual milestone. “It’s really exciting, I’m very proud of everyone.”

Beemer was also fifth in the 200 individual medley. Also earning All-State honors for the Eagles were Graziano (sixth in 100 freestyle), Ashleigh Shanley (fifth in 100 breaststroke, fourth in 200 IM), Stassia McGlothlin (third in 200 medley relay) and Rebecca Dickey (sixth in 500 freestyle). The Eagles were second in the 200 medley relay, third in the 200 freestyle relay, and sixth in the 400 freestyle relay.

“They surprised everyone but me,” said Issac.

Also bringing home an individual state championship was Milan’s Heather Kiger, who won the 100 butterfly. Kiger was also fourth in the 50 freestyle, and was on the state champion 200 freestyle relay team along with Anna Hargrove, Emily Weber and Lauren Cook.

“I didn’t think I could do it at first,” said Kiger, who was a second seed in the 100 butterfly heading in. She said a shot of confidence hit her when she stepped on the block, and by the time she made the first turn, she knew the title was hers.

Still she said anchoring the championship relay team was even more rewarding.

“We’ve been like a family for the past three months, working everyday together, it just feels amazing when you do it together,” Kiger said.

Milan and Chelsea finished seventh and eighth respectively as all three participating Washtenaw County schools finished in the top 10.

“Before the weekend even started I was pretty optimistic,” said Chelsea coach Dave Jolly. “We ended up dual meet wise, because of our league, 4 and 10. I knew we were a ton better than that.

“When you have six all state performances propelling us to a top 10 finish, I couldn’t be happier or any more proud of the girls. They swam out of their minds.”

All-State performers for the Bulldogs were Michelle Kellogg (sixth in 100 breaststroke and 200 yard IM), Hannah Olsen (fifth in 50 freestyle) and Lauren Dark (third in diving). Chelsea was fifth in the 200 yard freestyle relay and seventh in the 400 yard freestyle relay.

Hargrove was also seventh in the 100 backstroke for Milan. Milan was third in the 400 yard freestyle relay and finished in seventh place in the team standings.

Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by e-mail at petercunningham@annarbor.com, or by phone at 734-623-2561. Follow him on Twitter @petcunningham.