Sportsmanship: Bunker, UAF Women Earn Awards

Travis Bunker

Montana State Billings men's basketball player Travis Bunker and Alaska Fairbanks' women's basketball team have been selected the winners of the sixth annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference NCAA Sportsmanship award.

Bunker and the UAF women are now finalists for the 2009 NCAA Division II National Sportsmanship award, which honors one male and one female athlete (or team) from each of the three NCAA divisions who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior.

Those awards will be announced in late August. Last year, UAF's Einar Often and Central Washington's Mallory Holtman were the national winners.

Bunker was MSUB's third-leading scorer, averaging 13.4 points and its top rebounder pulling down 8.1 per contest leading the Yellowjackets to a 10-17 record, which was a nine-game improvement over the previous season.

Bunker, who was MSUB's team captain, averaged 39.1 minutes per contest and at one point played in 293 consecutive minutes. He consistently earned praise from opposing coaches and players on his sense of fair play and his work ethic.

“In my 30 years of coaching, I have had no one who was a more competitive player, yet did so with such class on and off the court,” MSUB coach George Pfeifer said.

“He demonstrated great empathy for others while still doing his all to win games. His ability to communicate in a positive manner while going through sometimes difficult situations was outstanding.”

Off the court he was involved in a reading program for elementary students, served as a youth ministry instructor at his church and volunteered to work at three basketball camps during the school year. He also visited local secondary schools to talk about good citizenship.

Alaska Fairbanks' women's basketball team struggled through an injury-plagued season, going winless in 16 conference contests. Out of the 12 players who started the season, only three were able to finish.

The team, however, was able to complete their season due to contributions from volleyball players and other students attending UAF.

Despite coming out on the wrong end of some lopsided scores, team members held their heads high as they shook hands and congratulated their opponents at the conclusion of each contest.

The injured players continued to come to practice to help put the new and inexperienced players through drills along with contributing vocally with both praise and pointers at the remaining home games.

The Fairbanks community supported the team until the end and the team supported the Fairbanks community as well, participating in multiple charity events and volunteer work, including helping build a house as part of the Habitat for Humanity program.

Team members also volunteered with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Program, putting on mini basketball clinics, participated in a “Go Red” events with Richard Simmons helping people become more aware of the seriousness of obesity in the United States, and also participated in the community's “Mush For Kids” program, signing autographs and helping kids enter and exit their dog sleds.