Antigo’s Tainter Earns GNC Swimmer of the Year Honor; Coach too

Antigo’s Girls Varsity Swim Team has had an eventful end to their Conference Season. Junior Holland Tainter was voted Great Northern Conference Girls Swimmer of the Year, and her coach Tonya McKenna Trabant, was selected as GNC Coach of the Year.
Tainter handily won both of her events at the GNC Conference meet at Lakeland on October 23. She swam the 200 yard individual medley in a time of 2:10.90, which broke her own team record. Tainter dominated in the 100 backstroke, finishing with a lifetime best and another new team record of 57.51. Throughout the season, Tainter posted top 6 times in all events across the GNC.
“Holland is a standout swimmer” Coach McKenna Trabant says.
Tainter says, “this award means so much to me, I’m so honored, but I’m even more thankful for everything swimming has taught me, the relationships it has given me, and the people who have made this journey so special.”
She continues, “I’m incredibly grateful for my coaches, Tonya McKenna Trabant and Heather Soltau, my teammates, my family, the swimmers throughout our conference, and all the wonderful people who have supported and encouraged me along the way.”

McKenna Trabant is in her third year of coaching the Robins, and tenth year of coaching competitive swimming. She says, “These girls have embraced challenges this season. Growth means stretching beyond what’s comfortable, and I’m proud of how they’ve stepped up.”
McKenna Trabant’s GNC peers voted her Coach of the Year. In receiving the award she thanked everyone “from the Antigo Swim Club, to Great Northern Conference and throughout the Northern Lakes Aquatic Club! We’re part of a community that shows up. It’s a gift to coach alongside people who want the best for every athlete.
Tainter names challenge as part of her success, stating “swimming has taken a lot of hard work, dedication, and perseverance, especially on the days when things weren’t easy.”
McKenna Trabant uses a challenge-by-choice approach which she describes as “giving each swimmer room to choose what’s right for her body and mind that day.” She goes further, saying, “Whether we choose the challenge or it finds us, our response defines us as athletes and as a team.”