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Following a hoops dream from Alaska to Bellingham

NWIC's Sara Wolgemuth lives life without regrets

Sara Wolgemuth is a sophomore on the Northwest Indian College women's basketball team. A Bellingham transplant from Utqiaġvik
Sara Wolgemuth is a sophomore on the Northwest Indian College women's basketball team. A Bellingham transplant from Utqiaġvik (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)
By Daniel Hornbuckle Staff Reporter

When Sara Wolgemuth had to decide between focusing solely on academics after high school or trying to balance them with collegiate sports, she chose to follow her dream wherever it took her.

That dream of playing college hoops brought her to Northwest Indian College and its burgeoning women’s basketball team. Since then, she’s become a key player. 

Wolgemuth, now a sophomore shooting guard for the Eagles, was born and raised, literally, at the “top of the world” in Utqiaġvik (pronounced as Oot-KHAH’-ghah veek), Alaska — an Inupiaq Eskimo village of a little more than 4,000 people.

The northernmost town in the U.S., Utqiaġvik is known for its extreme cold and complete darkness from mid-November through late January, when the sun doesn’t rise. There are no malls, theaters or fast food restaurants in Utqiaġvik. No roads lead into or out of town, and travel must be by plane.

“It’s unique. You have to be mentally tough to live there because it’s isolated from everything,” Wolgemuth said. “We have one flight a day. If you miss it, or it gets canceled due to weather, things get difficult, like delivery of mail, food and supplies.”

It is a community held together by the Indigenous values and traditions of the Inupiaq Eskimo people — values that emphasize respect for elders, nature, hard work, family and responsibility to the tribe. 

photo  Sara Wolgemuth is known for her ball-handling skills and high shooting percentage. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)  

“I come from ancestors that have existed for thousands of years,” Wolgemuth said. “We survived by depending on the land and ocean for food. My people still subsistence hunt for caribou, fish, seal, walrus and whale.”

The Utqiaġvik are also ardent supporters of athletics, and student-athletes like Wolgemuth are encouraged to hone their skills and use them as a gateway to college. 

“During the summer, we play basketball all day and night because we get 24 hours [of] sunlight,” Wolgemuth said.


Wolgemuth’s love for basketball started at 5 years old when she joined a youth league. She and her sister would go on to compete in several Amateur Athletic Union tournaments.

A point guard for Barrow High School from 2015–19, Wolgemuth’s high shooting percentage, ball-handling skills and court instincts helped the Whalers win state in 2016, her junior year.

Nearing the end of her senior year, Wolgemuth contemplated whether she wanted to continue playing basketball. After a friend mentioned NWIC as a possible choice, Wolgemuth reached out to the coach and soon signed a letter of intent to join the team. 

Playing basketball wasn’t the only reason Wolgemuth decided to commit to NWIC. She felt a connection with the school’s tribal affiliation and mission: “Building People. Building Nations.”

“Being around other Indigenous students makes me feel more accepted and comfortable,” Wolgemuth said.

Wolgemuth’s time playing with the Eagles has been both a learning experience and humbling. In her first year, the team did not win a single game. However, the 2022–23 season began with a new coach and new determination.

“This season was the first time our team’s chemistry clicked,” Wolgemuth said. “One of our most exciting games was the 61-43 win against Spokane Community College, a team that we’ve had a hard time beating.”

photo  Sara Wolgemuth has helped the Eagles go from one win during her freshman year to six wins as a sophomore. (Hailey Hoffman/Cascadia Daily News)  

Rochone Quasula, the women’s basketball coach and a former NWIC athlete, credits a lot of the team’s turnaround to the hard work of Wolgemuth. 

“Sara has so much talent and drive to be her best. Her confidence as a player has grown so much this season,” Quasula said. “She’s not only one of our main shooting guards, but also took on the role of team captain this year.”

The skills that served Wolgemuth well in high school continue to push her success at NWIC. Quasula describes Wolgemuth as a clutch player who knows how to come through during crunch time. 

“I can count on her to be prepared come game time,” Quasula said.

Despite ending its season with a 6-19 record, NWIC recently placed second in the 12-team National Basketball Tournament of Tribal Colleges and Universities from March 30 to April 2 in North Dakota. 

When she’s not in class, studying or playing basketball, Wolgemuth can be found hiking in the mountains, taking long drives or spending time talking to her grandfather, who plays an important role in her life. 

Wolgemuth’s future plans include completing her bachelor’s degree in human services and returning home to Utqiaġvik, where she plans to work with youth.

“I enjoy working with youth and making a difference in their lives,” Wolgemuth said. “I want kids to know there’s still a chance and there’s still people who care about them.”

“If all else fails, I want to travel the world and live my life with no regrets,” she added.

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