November 19, 2024  

Media Contacts:   
Matthew Vargas, men’s basketball coach, 509-682-6771, mvargas@wvc.edu   
Marcine Miller, public information office executive director, 509-682-6582, mmiller2@wvc.edu   

 Native American Classic comes to Wenatchee Valley College Dec. 6-8  

Wenatchee Valley College Athletics and the Center for Excellence and Inclusive Belonging have collaborated to present the Native American Classic at the Wenatchee campus from Dec. 6 to 8. The event’s centerpiece is three days of basketball with Native student-athletes, giving both high school and college players and coaches an opportunity to compete and connect. All events are open to the public. 

The Native American Classic basketball event will include games between high school and community college teams from across Washington state. Participants include: Wenatchee Valley College’s Knights basketball teams, Green River College, Hoquiam High School, Lake Roosevelt High School, DeSales Catholic High School, Omak High School, Northwest Indian College, Cashmere High School, Tacoma Community College, and Whatcom Community College. All games will be played in Smith Gym.  

The tournament begins on Friday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m. A full schedule of events and locations will be available on the WVC website and on the Knights Instagram page, wvc_knights.  

On Dec. 7, WVC will present the Day at the Native American Classic: an immersive day of activities that will showcase the diverse talents and culture of Native peoples as well as WVC programs and departments. The campus will host sports mini-camps, Native food and vendors, a financial aid workshop, campus and lab tours, and free health screenings. There will also be a special consortium of speakers focused on Indigenous youth leadership. DreamBuilders International will present “Bettering Our World, Bettering Ourselves,” a leadership consortium featuring local and nationally recognized guest speakers.   

The Day at the Native American Classic on Dec. 7 will also feature a screening of the hit movie “Rez Ball” with a special appearance by the actor Devin Sampson Craig. The Native artist Jamerson Cheer and the rock band Yellowwolf will close the event with an evening of uplifting live music performances featuring members of Yakima Nation, Muckleshoot Tribe, and the Colville Confederated Tribes. 

 “The Native American Classic promises to be an unforgettable celebration of Native youth, culture, and community,” said Matthew Vargas, men’s basketball coach and coordinator of the event. “The NAC is more than just a basketball tournament— it is a powerful opportunity to engage and uplift Native youth, foster a sense of belonging, and celebrate the rich culture and history of Indigenous peoples. The Native American Classic serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of our community and the importance of inclusivity and belonging at WVC.”   

Wenatchee Valley College extends its thanks to all of our collaborators and sponsors of this event, including: The Colville Confederated Tribes-Youth Development Program, Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, WVC Omak campus, WVC Omak Red Road Association, WVC Student Senate, CAMP, Financial Aid, and WVC Nursing program.   

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Wenatchee Valley College enriches North Central Washington by serving educational and cultural needs of communities and residents throughout the service area. The college is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion for all students and employees and provides high-quality transfer, liberal arts, professional/technical, basic skills and continuing education for students of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. Visit our website, wvc.edu. 

Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment. All programs are free from discrimination and harassment against any person because of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, or the use of a service animal by a person with a disability, age, parental status or families with children, marital status, religion, genetic information, honorably discharged veteran or military status or any other prohibited basis per RCW 49.60.030, 040 and other federal and state laws and regulations, or participation in the complaint process. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies and Title IX compliance for both the Wenatchee and Omak campuses: 

To report discrimination or harassment: Title IX Coordinator, Mish ee twie 1321A, (509) 682-6716, title9@wvc.edu. 

To request disability accommodations: Student Access Manager, Wenatchi Hall 2133, (509) 682-6854, TTY/TTD: dial 711, sas@wvc.edu.