2022 was a different year for Kodiak sports. No state banners were added to the rafters at the high school, but plenty of memorable moments kept island fans a buzz.
âDo you know my name?â a swim coach asked a group of youths on a recent February morning at the Kodiak Community Swimming Pool.Â
Half the swimmers were mesmerized by fluffy snowflakes falling outside and didnât respond, a few were lost in their thoughts about the candy they had gathered from an earlier game, while the rest shot their arms up and yelled in unison, âTianna.â
The coach â not much taller than her athletes and nearly lost in a sea of swim caps â flashed a smile and a thumbs-up in approval. The group of beginning-level swimmers knew their coachâs name, but what they didnât know was that she was Kodiak Highâs first female swimming star.Â