In the basement of the home of Rob and Jody (Buck) Stefonowicz, former NDSU basketball players, it is easy to see that their love for basketball and for each other extends far beyond the court. Below a framed picture of the BSA basketball court, their sons, Sam, 5, and Andy, 4, sport miniature versions of their parent’s former Bison jerseys as they tip off a little game of one-on-one in the family’s comfortable lower level. A gentle and loving reminder of their own youth, Rob and Jody think back to their formative years. Growing up more than 700 miles from each other — Rob from Crosby, N.D., and Jody from Lake City, Minn. — the two shared similar interests long before they met.

 

Jody, oldest of three girls, spent many an hour playing backyard basketball with her dad, Dave, and sisters, Shannon and Erin, with mom, Jean, cheering them on from the sidelines. Jody fondly remembers her dad coaching their third and fourth grade basketball teams. In addition to high school basketball, Jody also ran track and cross country, eventually winning the 800-meter track event at the state championship during her senior year. She picked up this activity again in her fifth year at NDSU, competing on NDSU’s cross country team. Jody’s sister Shannon also attended NDSU where they roomed together during Jody’s senior year of college.

 

Rob’s family consists of his ever-supportive parents, Mike and Jo, older sister Kelly and brother Devin, and younger sister Brenna, who shares her brother’s talent for basketball and also attended NDSU. Rob, like Jody, also ran track in high school and spent time on the football team until his senior year. Both Rob and his sister Brenna earned titles in their high school careers. The name of “Mr. Basketball” and “Miss Basketball” was given to the state’s top high school basketball player. Rob earned this designation his senior year as did his sister, Brenna.

 

Among their shared similarities, both Rob and Jody attended summer basketball camps at NDSU during their high school years. These camps, called “Camp of the Stars,” are intended to hone the student’s skills and enrich both individual and team abilities. Former directors Erv Inniger and Amy Ruley set the bar high for these student athletes. Though they never actually met until college, Rob and Jody both shared the same independent feeling of immediately being at home at NDSU and were largely impressed and inspired by the coaches. Ultimately, this preliminary exposure to NDSU encouraged their decision to attend the college.

 

Married now for eleven years, the couple first met during Rob’s freshman year and Jody’s sophomore year at NDSU. However, they didn’t officially start dating until nearly two years later. The couple agreed that initially, basketball was the obvious connection in their relationship. “We shared then, and continue to share today, a common interest in athletics and an active lifestyle. We will always share that common experience of college athletics and memories and unique experiences that come with being a Bison - everything from the dreaded first practice in the BSA after Thanksgiving to the raucous crowds during the UND games,” Rob expressed.

 

While Rob pursued an accounting degree, Jody worked toward a degree in physical education. “I have always enjoyed working with kids,” Jody explained. “I worked at a lot of summer kids’ camps over the years and loved to see the kid’s’ enthusiasm. I thought a degree in (physical education) would give me a way to teach kids to live an active lifestyle while still having fun.”

 

While her academics were the solid focus, Jody’s highlights from her time at NDSU were winning national championships her sophomore and senior years. “I think the first win during my sophomore year was exciting because we weren’t supposed to win. When you’re the underdog, it is always fun to see that upset,” Jody recalled. “It was also the first-ever championship win for women’s basketball at NDSU. It was so exciting to see how proud the coaches were as well as all of the fans.” During her junior year, the team lost in the championship to Delta State. Though the loss was a disappointment, the team had the chance to face the same opponent in the championship the following year, this time ending in a triumphant victory.

 

The highlight of Rob’s athletic career happened during his senior year when the men’s team came one game short of making the Elite Eight Tournament, (the Bison at that time were competing at the Division II level). “It was an exciting time. We had a chance to the win the game in the closing minutes that would have sent us to the Elite Eight but came up a little short,”  Rob shared. “I was very fortunate to have played with an outstanding group of guys. As time passes, the wins and losses seem a little less significant and the enduring memories are the thrill of competing at the collegiate level and the interesting people and places you encounter along the way.”

 

After graduating in 1994 because Rob was in the midst of his senior year at NDSU, Jody accepted a teaching position in Luverne, Minn. “We were both very busy during this time. Rob was finishing school and starting law school, and I was busy adjusting to life as a teacher and coach,” Jody explained. “We would make road trips, first between Fargo and Luverne, and later between St. Paul and Luverne, a few times a month. Looking back, we were both so focused on starting our careers that being a few hundred miles apart really wasn’t a concern.”

 

Upon graduation, Rob moved to the Twin Cities to study law at Hamline University. Following Rob’s second year at Hamline, the couple married and moved to Hopkins where they now live with their sons, Sam and Andy. Jody has spent the last 11 years at Peter Hobart Primary Center in St. Louis Park where she teaches physical education. “I started out teaching at the high school level. Now I work with grades K-3. What really motivates me is the kids’ excitement. I hope to give them activities that they will carry on into their adult lives. The staff at the school is amazing and extremely supportive,” Jody shared.

 

Going from the basketball court to the court of law, Rob practices in the area of real estate litigation as an attorney at Larkin Hoffman Law Firm in Minneapolis. When asked about how he thinks athletics may have played a role in his chosen profession, Rob offered a comparison. “I guess you can relate the competitiveness of athletics to litigation,” he said. “Both involve a lot of strategy and a lot of hard work. In both, there are winners and there are losers. Many of the skills that I developed through athletics definitely carry over into the legal profession.”

 

Both give credit to their parents for their success in their athletics as well as their academics. Rob’s parents, Mike and Jo, now of West Fargo, were always supportive in Rob and his siblings’ activities. “My parents made every opportunity available to us. They took us to camps, practices, etc. when we were younger and once we were in college, they drove the nearly 400 miles to almost every home game. They put on a lot of miles to watch us play and they were always there encouraging us,” Rob expressed. Love and basketball aren’t exclusive to Rob and Jody in the Stefonowicz family. Rob’s sister, Brenna, also played basketball at NDSU and coincidentally, married fellow Bison and track/cross country athlete, Heith Janke.

 

Rob and Jody still keep in touch with many friends and former teammates from NDSU, some that now also live in the Twin Cities metro area. The Buck-Stefonowicz family, including their Bison-fan sons, continue to visit NDSU and Fargo and have been back for many basketball and football games, though the pair laughingly admits that their Minnesota-born boys might have a slight preference to the Gophers. Rob and Jody also made the trip back last year during Homecoming when Jody was inducted into the Hall of Fame. “We had a wonderful time catching up with teammates, coaches and friends and meeting the new coaching staff and administrators, who are all very impressive,” the couple mutually agreed.

 

While Rob and Jody played hard and worked harder, they feel their time at NDSU was a slam dunk. “Looking back, we, like all other college students, had a few bumps in the road,” the couple explained in an e-mail. “But even those experiences that seemed slightly unpleasant at times — like the frozen march to the BSA for practice in January — we now look back on with fondness and appreciation. NDSU is an outstanding institution and we are very proud and appreciative to have had the opportunity to represent the school in athletics. NDSU satisfied all of our academic and athletic goals and desires.”