Party to honor national champs set for April 5

A celebration of Western Washington University's men's basketball NCAA Div. II national championship is set for 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 5, at Sam Carver Gymnasium on campus.

Everyone is invited to attend. Admission is free, and there'll be plenty of free food, prizes and fun activities. Parking regulations will be suspended on campus beginning at 3 p.m., and a free shuttle bus will be running from the Fairhaven lots.

WWU President Bruce Shepard, head coach Brad Jackson and team captain Rory Blanche will speak, and the WWU cheerleaders and the Viking band will perform.

The master of ceremonies will be Doug Lange, program director for KPUG and KBAI Radio and play-by-play broadcaster of WWU basketball. The Viking team and coaches will be introduced by WWU men’s basketball public address announcer Brian Young.

Color team photos, which can be used for autographs, will be handed out. Autographed basketballs will be among other giveaways.

The WWU Associated Students Bookstore will be selling championship banners, T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats.

Video and photo presentations will be shown on Viking Vision, and the event will be streamed live online.

Food is available with cuisine from the regions of all three teams the Vikings beat at the Elite Eight, including Texas barbecue flank steak sliders for the quarterfinal win over Midwestern State, Texas; crab and cod cakes for the semifinal victory over Stonehill, Mass.; and Cajun hot link corn dog bites for the national title win over Montevallo, Ala. Smoked salmon mousse in pastry shells and “W” cookies also will be available, along with domestic cheeses and crackers, fresh seasonal fruit and grilled vegetables.