Wharton MBA student Niall Maclennan died from heart failure last week after collapsing in a rugby game in Arizona. He was 30.
The second-year student took the field on Nov. 13 for the Wharthogs -- Wharton's graduate rugby team -- in a tournament in Arizona and suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix.
Doctors concluded that an enlarged heart -- a pre-existing condition that Maclennan was not aware of -- had ultimately provoked the attack.
Wharton officials and family members could not immediately be reached for comment.
A Scotland native, Maclennan was known to be proud of his heritage. Friends said he would often attend classes in a kilt.
Maclennan planned to pursue a career in consulting, spending last summer as an intern at the Boston Consulting Group.
Friends say he became engaged about one month ago.
A hardworking student, Maclennan's dedication to Wharton was not limited to rugby. He was named to the director's list -- a Wharton honor roll -- and was co-president of the Scotch Club, a group that organized liquor tastings.
He also helped coordinate the MBA Leadership Lectures speakers series.
Professors, classmates and teammates said he struck a rare balance between a serious commitment to his work and levity.
"He was full of a lighthearted passion, a passion that he [made] accessible to people," said MBA student Ainsley Tai, co-president of the Rugby Club.
Though his knowledge of both Scottish liquor and rugby often far exceeded that of his peers, Maclennan was never condescending, friends said.
Wharton Graduate Association President and MBA student Serhan Secmen said he met Maclennan through the Scotch Club, and was immediately struck by his energy.
"He had this personality where he was able to connect with people from all walks of life," Secmen said.
Friends say Maclennan was also physically and mentally tough.
In the final game of a tournament against Harvard last fall, Maclennan was sidelined with broken ribs. But his injury did not stop him from mustering the wind to spur the team on with music from his bagpipes, which he played regularly.
"Niall piped us on," said teammate and MBA student John Kidd.
Teammates say he continued to play for much of the season despite his injury.
"The guy was so tough he just never mentioned it," Kidd said. "He just suffered in silence, which I really kind of admired."
"He was definitely one of the characters on the team," he added.
In honor of Maclennan, the undergraduate rugby team presented the Wharthogs with one of its game balls.
"He was an infectious guy that touched a lot of people at Wharton and beyond," said MBA student and teammate Robert Isaacs.
