DILLON, Mont. – Montana Western continues to honor the 50th Anniversary year of the passing of Title IX by sharing the stories and history of women's athletics at UMW. Today's story is from former All-American volleyball and basketball player Katherine Sunwall. Katherine Sunwall graduated from Montana Western in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.

As a volleyball and basketball student-athlete at Montana Western, Katherine received several honors. For volleyball, she was a 2002 Freshman of the Year, a First Team All-Conference athlete 2003-2005, a 2004 First Team All-Region athlete, a 2005 Frontier Conference MVP and a 2005 NAIA Third Team All American. Sunwall is in the record books for recording 27 kills in a single match, 344 kills in a single season, and recorded the second most blocks with 167 in a season (rally point scoring to 30pts from 01-07).

In Basketball, Katherine was a 2004 Frontier Conference Freshman of the Year. From 2004-2007, she was a First Team All-Conference athlete. For 3 seasons, 2005-2007, Katherine was the Frontier Conference Defensive Player of the Year. In 2005, she was both an NAIA and WBCA All American Honorable Mention. In 2006, she was an NAIA All-American Second Team athlete and a WBCA All American Honorable Mention. In 2007, Katherine was an MVP of the Frontier Conference and an NAIA and WBCA All-American First Team Athlete, and led the nation in blocks. Sunwall is at the top of the record book basketball as she is a top five scorer in Bulldog history after accumulating 1605 points in her four seasons for the women's basketball team.
 
Katherine Sunwall - HOF Volleyball and Basketball Player (Player-'02-'07)
"I played volleyball and basketball at Western from 2002- 2007. I absolutely loved attending Western for both basketball and volleyball, but also for my educational experiences. My schedule was super busy and I would not have had it any other way.

I worked in the cafeteria on the weekday mornings under Brenda Borjas, attended classes that prepared me for my teaching career, then was off to two practices a day-one for volleyball and one for basketball under Jenny Peterson and Kevin Engellant. My professors were excellent and provided hands-on teaching experiences that I learned so much from. I was also involved in Chi Alpha as well and that helped me form in my spiritual life. 
My experiences in athletics have definitely helped shape who I am today. My coaches and teammates pushed me and showed me how to work extremely hard. Working with a team has helped me in my everyday life experiences as I interact with my co-workers, while teaching and my fellow coaching staff when I coach basketball.

I learned so many life lessons from playing athletics at Western and it started with my coaches- Jenny and Kevin and then of course my teammates. Being humble, learning how to have a work ethic, never giving up, knowing how to work with, for and under people are a few of the examples I learned and still use today.

I am currently a kindergarten teacher at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Great Falls, Mont.- this is my tenth year. I have also been coaching volleyball and basketball in Great Falls for 13 years. I currently only coach basketball (JV) at Great Falls High School- where I attended high school. 

Some of my advice is not to take this time for granted. This is such a fun, yet a busy time in your life that you will never forget. Cherish each and every moment. Work extremely hard in whatever you are doing. Whether you are mopping the gymnasium floor as your job or making omelets in the cafeteria. Writing a paper or helping a child learn how to read, or hustling after a ball, just give it your all.  Make your family, friends, coaches, teammates, professors and Western proud of you- be a leader, someone you want your future kids to look up to. Lastly, don't spend too much time at the Metlen."

To view the Title IX page and other stories, click the link here: Title IX - Montana Western, University of (umwbulldogs.com)