Knudsen earns tremendous honor

The Phillips County Area has produced many great athletes over the last century, but according to Montana State University Billings, Malta has produced the school’s Player of the Decade.

Former M-ette Bobbi Knudsen, daughter of Jim and Janice Knudsen of Malta, was inducted to the MSUB Athletics Hall of Fame last February and was named MSUB’s Player of the Decade in November.

The PCN interviewed Knudsen’s former coach, Yellowjackets Head Coach Kevin Woodin and MSUB Athletic Director Krista Montague about their experience working with Knudsen.

“A total of 13 all-decade teams were selected (one for each of our sports),” Montague said. “On each team, a player of the decade was selected, indicating the top-performing student-athlete on the team. Bobbi stood out not only as the women’s basketball player of the decade, but the overall department player of the decade for a number of reasons. Firstly, she was a three-time All-American - the only MSUB athlete to achieve that during the 2010s. Secondly, she was named the GNAC Female Athlete of the Year in 2013-14, which means that the GNAC athletic directors voted her as the top overall athlete in any sport during that year.”

Montague said that the only other athlete to be named GNAC Athlete of the Year for MSUB was the school’s baseball player of the decade Brody Miller, who was the 2015 GNAC Male Athlete of the Year.

“Thirdly, the team success MSUB had during Bobbi’s career was tremendous,” Montague said. “She captained the Yellowjackets to their first and only GNAC regular-season title, and led the team to the Sweet 16 (NCAA regional title game) during her senior year in 2013-14.”

While Montague was named AD in 2012, Coach Woodin first saw Knudsen during her high school career with the M-ettes during the Big Sky State Games in Billings. The M-ettes were facing a team of All-Stars from around Montana that day.

“Bobbi chose to play with her own team in the summers because she thought it was important for her high school team to play together to get better,” Coach Woodin said. “She was defending off of the ball and had hustled across the key to help on post player Jordan Sullivan in the paint. Bobbi blocked her shot ridiculously with her left hand and the play still sticks out to me to this day.”

Coach Woodin said that the athleticism and competitiveness of the play was a game-changer. He then became obsessed with recruiting Knudsen. When Knudsen had verbally committed to the program, Coach Woodin knew that she would change the course of the program at MSUB.

“A lot of people and players say I hate to lose and think they are competitive but Bobbi lived it and her leadership on and off the court were so valuable to our team and program,” Coach Woodin said. “She would push herself to the very end and beyond in order to help her team win.”

Her competitiveness and love for the game went beyond her individual goals. According to Coach Woodin, Knudsen was humble and had the ability to get the most out of her teammates, a trait that he admires then and still does to this day.

Montague’s fondest memories of Knudsen during her career include memories with her children. Montague’s daughters were age 11 and age 9 at the time.

“She would joke around with them or rebound for them in the gym before a game,” Montague said. “I always thought that was really neat (and a testament to her character) how she took the time to notice them and talk to them. My girls absolutely loved watching her play and being around her!”

Montague’s oldest daughter is 19 and a sophomore on MSUB’s Women’s Basketball Team. Her youngest daughter is a 17-year-old senior playing at Billings Skyview.

“Bobbi was a significant role model for both of them,” Montague said.

Having been Knudsen’s coach for four seasons, Coach Woodin found it hard to zero in one a single favorite memory, but he remembers many.

“Obviously big wins come to mind and winning the GNAC championship at home during her senior season comes to mind,” Coach Woodin said. “She had the ball in her hands at the end of many close games so I can think of many big shots or defensive plays she made. Road trips and experiences all around the United States were a big part of our program too.”

He pointed back to memories of game planning with Knudsen, watching her execute the plans, and witnessing Knudsen come to the court to get shots up on her own time.

“Her basketball IQ was so good and she loved competing and the bigger the moment, the more she enjoyed the game,” Coach Woodin said. “Her toughness and ability to play through injuries always amazed me too.”

Coach Woodin said that Knudsen played 40 minutes or close to that mark every game, pushing herself and her teammates even if she was exhausted.

“Bobbi’s basketball resume speaks for itself,” Coach Woodin said. “Her name is all over our records book and her teams were successful on and off the court. We won a lot of games while she played here and to be a 3-time NCAA All-American is phenomenal.”

Coach Woodin said that he was thankful that he had the opportunity to be Knudsen’s coach. He concluded his interview with these words:

“I am very thankful I got the opportunity to coach Bobbi Knudsen,” Coach Woodin said. “She could have been a great player at the Division I level but fortunately she played Division II at MSUB. I think she always felt slighted by not getting a D1 offer and it helped to motivate her. I also think if she was asked if she would change anything I bet she would say it all worked out just fine. I appreciate my friendship with her and how close she is to my own children. And finally, I am excited she will be finishing her Veterinarian Doctorate degree from Colorado State this spring as I know how hard she has worked to achieve this milestone. Bobbi will be a great veterinarian wherever she ends up and I know her parents, family, and the Malta community played a huge role in her success.”

For more information on MSUB’s All-Decade Teams please visit: https://msubsports.com/news/2020/8/28/general-msub-to-announce-all-decade-teams-this-fall.aspx