Bunker Tabbed League Sportsman of the Year

BILLINGS, Mont. – Montana State University Billings men’s basketball player Travis Bunker and the Alaska Fairbanks’ women’s basketball team have been selected the winners of the sixth annual Great Northwest Athletic Conference NCAA Sportsmanship Award, the conference office announced Tuesday.

“We believe the Sportsmanship Award is mostly about character and selflessness,” MSUB head men’s basketball coach George Pfeifer said.  “Travis’ ability to give to others is distinguished through his receiving this award.  Everyone connected to Travis and the MSUB men’s basketball program should feel a lot of pride.”

Bunker and the UAF women’s basketball team now are finalists for the 2009 NCAA Division II 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.
 
The national award winners will be announced in late August as the GNAC is no stranger to winning the award.  Last season, UAF’s Einar Often and Central Washington’s Mallory Holtman were the national winners.

Bunker finished third on the Yellowjackets in scoring with 13.4 points per game and was the top rebounder on the team at an 8.4 clip.  Bunker helped lead the Yellowjackets to a 10-17 record in his senior season.  He was a team captain and averaged 39.1 minutes per game.  At one point this season, he played in 293 consecutive minutes.

“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,” Pfeifer added.  “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.”

Bunker not only excelled on the court, but in the community, too.  He was involved in a reading program for elementary students, served as a youth ministry instructor and volunteered to work at basketball camps throughout the school year.

The UAF women’s basketball team earned the conference award on the female side as it struggled through an injury-riddled season, going winless in 16 GNAC contests.  Only three players were able to finish the season from a team that began the year with 12.  The team completed the season with contributions from the student-body and members of the volleyball team.