WREN — Wren High School softball Coach Lynn Hicks has been awarded coach of the year, after leading her team to a state championship last year.

The Lady Hurricanes were ranked one of the best teams in the nation even before heading to the finals and defeating Stratford High School in a best of three series. Wren’s final record was 26-5, and the team ranked as one of the best in the nation.

Hicks said she was surprised when she received the letter from the National Federation of High School Sports.

“(It’s) a great honor for me, but I’m there because our team has been successful,” she said, attributing her success with her players’ hard work. “You’re not there without them.”

Hicks has been teaching for 28 years and coaching for 26. Most of those years have been at Wren High School, although she spent her first two years in education at McDuffie High School, which is now closed.

Hicks, who teaches fitness at Wren, said that the National Federation of High School Sports reviews several aspects of a coach in determining the coach of the year, including: the coach’s longevity, the team’s overall record, out-of-school activity, contribution within the school and coaching philosophy.

The Lady ’Canes are poised for another successful year, having lost only one key player, Hicks said.

All five of its seniors have been awarded scholarships this year, she said.