Standout's tragic death left indelible stamp on 91-92 squad

Duke Wallenborn died unexpectedly of a congenital heart problem in the midst of the 1991-92 men's basketball season, just days after he led the team to a 1-point victory over arch-rival Central Washington University. Courtesy photo

The 1991-92 men's basketball squad will be honored before WWU’s game Saturday, Feb. 11, against Alaska Fairbanks. Most of that team will be returning to Bellingham, getting together for dinner, and telling stories about Duke Wallenborn, who died unexpectedly during that season.

The buzzer sounded and the raucous crowd stormed onto the court at Sam Carver Gymnasium. The building had erupted in a roar of sheer jubilation. The players were the same way, screaming in joy and excitement while searching for someone to embrace.

The 1991-92 Western Washington University men’s basketball team had just topped arch-rival Central Washington by the slimmest of margins.

A defensive stop on Central’s final possession gave the Vikings a 64-63 victory. With it, they had clinched the regular-season NAIA District 1 championship and the top seed in the upcoming district playoffs.

“The crowd was going nuts. We were going nuts,” said Brian Jones, Western’s junior forward. “We were on top of the world.”

The Vikings’ star player, Duke Wallenborn, had done it again. Duke scored 13 of his 18 points in the second half, including a decisive three-point play in the final minute, lifting Western to the win. He was among his teammates celebrating, jumping up and down, hands raised in the air, soaking in the joy of the moment. Life could not have been better.