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BILLINGS, Mont. - The 2013-14 Montana State University Billings Women's Basketball team took home several of the major awards on their way to winning Team of the Year Honors at the Second Annual Buzzie awards held last Thursday, Apr. 24.
 
The Women's Basketball team was the recipients of Game/Event of the Year (Women's Basketball-104-77 win over UAF to clinch GNAC Regular Season Title), Moment/Play of the Year (Women's Basketball one point come from behind victory in the first round of NCAA Regional Tournament over AAU), as well as individual accolades for Coach of the Year (Kevin Woodin), Newcomer of the Year (Chelsea Banis), Breakout Player of the Year (Austin Hanser), and Female Athlete of the Year (Bobbi Knudsen).
 
The Buzzie Awards took place in Petro Theatre on the campus of MSUB as team and individual honors were given out in several categories for the most outstanding student-athletes and teams in this season's programs. 
 
The evening started out with a performance by the MSUB Cheer team.  Also unveiled during the evening was the new Buzz the Bee mascot.  Jake Letman served as the evening's Master of Ceremonies in his final year as the student voice of the Yellowjackets. 
 
Among the honorees were scholar-athlete of the year, given to men's track and field athlete Lewis Polkow.  Polkow earned the award by having the highest GPA of any graduating senior who has used up his athletic eligibility.  Jackie Hill and Kavindu Gamage received the outstanding SAAC-member awards given out and voted on by fellow Student Athletic Advisory Committee members.  Gamage also took home Men's Tennis Athlete of the Year honors. 
 
The Men's Soccer team, also known as the Jacket Hooligans, took home the Buzzie for Fan of the Year.  New to the Buzzies' this year was Student Worker of the Year.  This award is given out to an outstanding student who has shown to be a valuable part of the behind-the-scenes work at Yellowjacket Athletics.  Nicole Bisson was the Inaugural recipient of this years' honor.
 
Also new to the Buzzie's this year were Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards.  Rio Frame, women's cross country and track and field, earned the Freshman of the Year honors with her performances in both sports.  Frame finished as an MSUB top-three runner in every event this year for the Yellowjackets in cross country.  She has also set new records in track and field and is the current MSUB record holder in the women's indoor 3,000 meters and the outdoor 5,000 meters.
 
Robert Peterson took home Men's Cross Country Athlete of the Year, as well as the MSUB Male Athlete of the Year honors.  Peterson competes in men's cross country and track and field.  This year Peterson set several MSUB records and was the winner at the GNAC-Indoor meet in the men's mile, setting a new MSUB record and a new GNAC meet record.
 
For the second year in a row, Bobbi Knudsen took home the Buzzie for Female Athlete of the Year.  Knudsen finishes her basketball career at MSUB sitting on 17 all-time season and career records.  Among those include finishing No. 2 all-time at MSUB with 1,831 points and No. 2 in career assists with 532.  She also finished No. 2 in career field goals attempted (1,617) and career three-pointers attempted (182) and tied for No. 2 in career field goals made with 680.
 
The last two awards given out during the evening's show belonged to the team of the night -women's basketball, as their Head Coach Kevin Woodin was honored as Coach of the Year, followed by the final award of the evening given out to the 2013-14 Women's Basketball team as Team of the Year.  During their season, the women's basketball team finished 25-8, including a perfect 15-0 defense of their home court.  The Yellowjackets were the GNAC regular season champions as well as the No. 2 seed-at the regional tournament, where they made it to the Sweet Sixteen and the regional title game.
 
It was a great night of honoring all the student-athletes during an end of the year show that also included acknowledgement by Athletic Director Krista Montague of two people who are retiring after several years at MSUB.
 
Chancellor Dr. Rolf Groseth has been at the university the last four years, and has been a great supporter of Yellowjacket Athletics through his commitment and dedication to the student-athlete experience, as well as a side-line supporter at many of the MSUB sporting events.
 
Steve Johnson has been the Rec Activities Director at MSU Billings for the past 27 years, and has been the go-to-guy for everything sports in the building.  Johnson is retiring this year after being both a stalwart and inspiring presence for both MSUB Rec Activities and Athletics.  He has been involved in many of the events over the years including serving as the Tournament Director at the MSUB Desert Stinger Softball tournament for the last five years.
 
"A yearly tradition now, The Buzzies is a special end of the year celebration in which we take a few hours to celebrate the many accomplishments of our student-athletes," Montana State University Billings Athletic Director Krista Montague said.  "At MSUB, we are proud of our strong academic programs, rich athletic tradition, and the people who make the campus special.  This event honors and recognizes these important characteristics of our institution."
 
Volleyball Player of the Year
Presented by: Shawn O'Brien & Sam Butterworth
Nominees: Kyndal Williams, Chelsey Walter & Monica Grimsrud
 
Women's Cross Country Runner of the Year
Presented by: Lisa Axel & Robert Peterson
Nominees: Rio Frame, Renae Hepfner & Jinise Osborne
 
Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year
Presented by: Lindsay Sullivan & Chelsey Walter
Nominees: Travis Buttelman, Robert Peterson & Michael Luhr
 
Women's Soccer Player of the Year
Presented by: Lewis Polkow & Marcus Drange
Nominees: Chelsea Shuman, Katlyn Lokay & Heidi Greenback
 
Men's Soccer Player of the Year
Presented by: Lisa Allen & Leah Berry
Nominees: Cameron Lee, Haley Klarich & Michael Aringer
 
Women's Basketball Player of the Year
Presented by: Wojciech Krakowiak & Luke Reinschmidt
Nominees: Bobbi Knudsen, Janiel Olson & Chelsea Banis
 
Men's Basketball Player of the Year
Presented by: Alex Balog & Kavindu Gamage
Nominees: Kalob Hatcher, Jonathan Mesghna & Austin Hudson
 
Women's Golfer of the Year
Presented by: Kevin Woodin & Jennifer Johnson
Nominees: Katie Fish, Capri Ingram & Melissa Saken
 
Men's Golfer of the Year
Presented by: Elizabeth Davis & Austin Hanser
Nominees: Gage Huft, Brad Harrleson & Austin Westphal
 
Women's Track & Field Athlete of the Year
Presented by: Rob Bishop & Emily Paffhausen
Nominees: Nocona Frame, Corrie Holm & Hope Reid
 
Men's Track & Field Athlete of the Year
Presented by: Austin Hudson & Capri Ingram
Nominees: Robert Peterson, AJ Montanez & Nate Vanderby
 
Women's Tennis Athlete of the Year
Presented by: Dave Coppock & Amanda Todd
Nominees: Maddie Loomis, Mary Conwell & Emily Paffhausen
 
Men's Tennis Athlete of the Year
Presented by: Birgitta Gray & James Catlin
Nominees: Kavindu Gamage, Eric De Romas & Brandon Beardsley
 
Softball Player of the Year
Presented by: Steve Johnson & Mary Owen
Nominees: Aubrey Conceicao, Jessyka MacDonald & Breanna Wilson
 
Baseball Player of the Year
Presented by: Jamie Stevens & Bobbi Knudsen
Nominees: Brody Miller, Kevin Toon & Luke Reinschmidt
 
Cheer Team Member of the Year
Presented by: Jake Letman & Ryan Shore
Winner: Stevie Howell
 
SAAC Award
Presented by: Cameron Lee
Winners: Jackie Hill, Kavindu Gamage
 
Work Study Student of the Year
Presented by: Gina Herbert & Kendra Schulz
Winner: Nicole Bisson
 
Fan of the Year
Presented by: Krista Montague, Director of Athletics
Winner: the Jacket Hooligans (Men's Soccer team)
 
Freshman of the Year
Presented by: Jessica Hart & Chelsea Banis
Nominees: Bella Rovens, Morgan Opp, Ashlynn Ward, Alisha Breen, Marc Matthews & Rio Frame
 
Newcomer of the Year
Presented by: Mike Bazemore & Bekah Gasner
Nominees: Chelsea Banis, Jonathan Mesghna, Austin Hudson, Kevin Toon & Jake Mills
 
Breakout Player of the Year
Presented by: Brent Montague & Denise Wynia
Nominees: Robert Peterson, Austin Hanser, Katlyn Lokay & Mary Conwell
 
Game/Event of the Year
Presented by: Dr. Diane Duin, Dean of College of Allied Health Profession
Nominees: 1- Women's Basketball-104-77 win over UAF to clinch GNAC Regular Season Title
              2- Men's Basketball upset overtime win against #24 ranked WWU at home, 102-101
              3- Men's Cross Country seep Alaska Fairbanks invitational meet 8K and 4K
  4- Volleyball upset win in five at home against CEW, (24-26, 26-24, 20-25, 25-21,
  18-16)
 
Moment/Play of the Year
Presented by: Chuck Wendt, President & CEO of MSU Billings Foundation
Nominees: 1- Women's Basketball one point come from behind victory in the first round of
  NCAA Regional Tournament over AAU
  2- Baseball's Luke Reinschmidt hitting for the Cycle at NNU on March 28, 2014
  3- Men's Track & Field, Robert Peterson first place finish in the GNAC Mile, setting a
  new conference and meet record
  4- Men's Basketball Marc Matthews, buzzer-beater put-back for the win at #13 ranked
  SPU in overtime, 72-70
 
Scholar Athlete of the Year
Presented by: Dr. Scott Harris, NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative
Winner: Lewis Polkow
 
Female Student-Athlete of the Year
Presented by: Dr. Rolf Groseth, Chancellor
Nominees: Bobbi Knudsen, Emily Paffhausen, Monica Grimsrud & Aubrey Conceicao
 
Male Student-Athlete of the Year
Presented by Dr. Rolf Groseth, Chancellor
Nominees: Robert Peterson, Gage Huft, Kavindu Gamage, Kalob Hatcher & Brody Miller
 
Coach of the Year
Presented by: Sarah Brockel, Director of Alumni Relations
Winner: Kevin Woodin
 
Team of the Year
Presented by: Krista Montague, Director of Athletics
Winner: Women's Basketball
 
"Congratulations to all of our student-athletes," Montague said.  "We are very proud of their accomplishments, work ethic, teamwork, and sportsmanship.  I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to student-athletes, coaches, athletics staff, and all attendees for making the event so special."
 
Note: Awards are a compilation of three voting avenues: a poll on the MSUBSports.com website, fan voting on the MSUB Facebook page, and voting by faculty, staff, and coaches in the Athletic Department.