Honors and Awards
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First-Team Academic All-Big 12 (2003, 2004)
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Big 12 All-Tournament Team (2002)
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Big 12 All-Newcomer Team (2002)
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Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll (Fall: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006; Spring: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
2005 Season
Katie Bunkers finished her Husker career as a rock of the back line. She started all 23 games in the 2005 season, the second consecutive year accomplishing such a feat. She finished ninth on the all-time list for games started with 78.
Bunkers, along with her defensive teammates, allowed only 135 shots on goal for opponents, compared to the Husker's 186. Nebraska racked up 45 goals on the season while Bunker and company gave up only 29.
Bunkers' prowess showed off the field also as she earned a first-team academic All-Big 12 pick for the third consecutive year.
2004 Season
Bunkers was again a key defender for Nebraska in 2004, starting every game and logging the fourth-most minutes on the team. An integral part of a Husker defense that allowed just 1.25 goals per game, the Sioux Falls, S.D., native also took on a more offensive role in her junior season.
Bunkers scored her first career goal off a corner kick against in-state rival Creighton on Aug. 29. Her first goal proved to be a game-winner and put her in a tie for third on the team in game-winning goals. Bunkers took more shots and shots on goal in 2004 than she attempted in her first two seasons combined. Bunkers notched the first assist of her career on Oct. 8, teaming with Nikki Baker to assist on Brittany Timko's goal against Texas.
Off the field, she was a first-team academic All-Big 12 pick and earned spots on Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters.
2003 Season
Bunkers got off to a slow start in 2003, playing limited minutes in the first four games of the season because of a knee injury.
Coming off the injury, Bunkers started the last 18 games of the season and played every minute of the last 15 contests.
On the back line, Bunkers helped the Huskers post a 1.60 goals-against average and five shutouts, allowing opponents to take 319 shots and 159 shots on goal in 2003.
Bunkers played well for the second year in the Nebraska defense in the Big 12 Tournament, turning away numerous shots against Texas A&M.
In the classroom, Bunkers added first-team academic All-Big 12 honors and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in both the fall and spring semesters.
2002 Season
A versatile athlete, Bunkers brought speed and explosiveness to the Husker defense in her freshman campaign. She saw immediate playing time in her first season, starting the last 14 games and seeing time in 21 contests.
Bunkers was a contributor to Nebraska’s 14 shutouts in 2002. She was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team for her solid performance as a freshman, along with fellow freshmen Nikki Baker and Pam Karakusis.
Bunkers showed her potential in the Nebraska backfield during the Big 12 Tournament, when the Huskers had to compensate for the absence of All-Big 12 defender Breanna Boyd. Bunkers stepped up to the challenge and earned All-Big 12 Tournament honors after helping Nebraska defeat Kansas, Texas and Texas A&M en route to the Big 12 title.
Bunkers was also a success off the field, being named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll in both the fall and spring semesters.
High School
A four-time first-team all-state member, Bunkers had a stellar high school career at the sweeper position at O’Gorman High School in Sioux Falls, S.D. During her career, O’Gorman won two state championships and was runner-up the other two years.
Bunkers was the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of South Dakota, joining Amber Richardson (Nebraska) and Nikki Baker (Oklahoma) as incoming Huskers in 2002 who won state honors.
A multi-sport athlete, Bunkers also collected a state championship on the volleyball court her senior season, and an individual state championship on the track in the 400 meters. She was a four-time letterwinner in track, setting the school record in the 400 meters in 57.7 seconds.
For her work in the classroom, Bunkers was named a South Dakota Regent Scholar and was a member of the National Honor Society.
Other Information
As a member of the Dakota Gold Legend, Bunkers earned three consecutive state cup championships in 1999, 2000 and 2001. She also received the Fair Play Award for Region II in 1999 and 2001. Bunkers served as the team captain for two seasons.
Personal Information
The daughter of Mary and Jerry Bunkers, Katie has two sisters, Keeley, 18, and Liz, 13. Katie was born on Feb. 3, 1984, in Sioux Falls, S.D. She is an advertising major.