The WPI men’s basketball’s program enjoyed a great
run in the early and mid-1990s. A large reason for the success was
the play of big man Chris Weinwurm. He is currently the
seventh-leading scorer in men’s basketball history with 1,322
points to go along with 662 rebounds, 94 blocks, 93 assists, and
109 steals.
The Middletown, N.J., native averaged 17.9 points per game with
8.6 rebounds per game, 44 helpers, 40 blocks, and 55 steals in his
senior season. He earned All-CAC First Team accolades in addition
to being named the ECAC College Day MVP, courtesy of a 23-point
afternoon, as the Engineers won its first-ever game at the Centrum,
a 57-50 triumph over Clark. He grabbed 22 rebounds against Salve
Regina and later poured in 32 points against Nichols to help WPI
equal the then-school record for wins with 15. The Boynton Hillers
advanced to the CAC finals with an overtime win against Coast
Guard.
”It has been a pleasure getting to know Wurm since I took
over as head coach,” said Chris Bartley. “He is known
as one of the toughest and most competitive post players WPI has
ever had. This is on display at every alumni game when he is
dominating the paint—I can see why he was part of many strong
teams in the ’90s for Coach Kaufman.”
Weinwurm boasted a career-best 19.5 points per game and,
bolstered by a 15-rebound performance against Anna Maria, averaged
9.1 per game to earn his initial All-CAC first team honor. He was
awarded a medical waiver and took advantage of a fifth year by
taking home All-CAC Second Team accolades by virtue of scoring 16.4
points per game, and recording 8.6 rebounds per game to go with 23
assists and 20 blocks.
“Chris was an exceptional rebounder who always came up
with the big basket when we needed one,” recalled Hall of
Fame head coach Ken Kaufman. “I also remember him as being a
great teammate to everyone on our team.”
Chris graduated from WPI in the spring of 1993 with a degree in
biotechnology. His MQP explored the effects of particular spider
venom on the transmission of electrical impulses in sea slug
neurons.
He currently resides in Northborough with his wife, Stephanie,
and he has proudly served as a firefighter and paramedic for the
Town of Westborough for the past 10 years.
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