Wildcats reunite and give back during CWU Night at the Mariners

For a growing group of Central Washington University alumni, CWU Night at the Mariners isn’t just another baseball game; it’s a reunion, a tradition, and a reminder that once you’re a Wildcat, you’re always family.

Starting as a personal invitation to one alumnus to join the former CWU president at the game, the annual game at T-Mobile Park has turned into a tradition for a group of nearly 60 Wildcats who all coordinate and attend together.

“About eight years ago, Jim Ockerman was invited by then-President Gaudino to attend the CWU Mariners game,” said Mark “Remy” Remington, who now organizes the annual gathering. “He then contacted a few of us the next year, and that was the initial group gathering of primarily those of us who attended CWU in person between 1983-1986.”

Ever since, the gathering has continued to grow year after year, from 30 attendees in 2023, to 48 last year, and 59 this year. Many in the group were classmates in the ’80s, connected through shared classes, clubs, intramural sports, and some memorable nights out in Ellensburg.

But what started as a small core group of Wildcats from a specific era is expanding.

“My goal as the current driver of this event is to expand to other alumni, not just our generation, and that goal is being accomplished,” Remy said. “CWU allows us all to grow, to meet and cherish lifelong friends, to be in their weddings, to hold their kids and best of all, to always expand a story. At the drop of a hat, any friend you made at Central will be there the rest of your life, period.”

This gathering has not only grown to include more alumni; it has also grown in terms of its impact. What began as a meet-up among old friends now includes a generous effort to give back to current students.

At the 2024 event, Remy realized he had overbought three seats for the game after getting a final headcount for the group, so he reached out to Alumni Director Casey Ross to see if anybody still needed tickets. Ross connected Remy with a student and her family, and they organized a meetup at the ballpark so they could purchase the extra tickets.

“The more I thought about it, I felt in my heart that I had the means to pay for those three seats and therefore shared with the student, her mom (a CWU alum), and younger brother (now attending CWU) that we are all family. When you get the chance in the future to pay it forward, support a fellow Wildcat,” Remy said.

This year, he asked the group to contribute some additional funds when they paid for their own Mariners ticket. With the help of those small contributions from ticket buyers, the group was able to sponsor 17 student tickets. That’s 17 current Wildcats who got to attend the Mariners game on April 26 and experience what it means to be part of the CWU alumni family.

"As an alum myself, it makes me proud to be part of such a great legacy of fellow Wildcats,” Ross said. “Our student experiences of Central may have been different, but the camaraderie runs deep, especially as we all gather together in support of the current students."

With a goal of continue to grow, the CWU alumni group organizers have their sights set on increased alumni and student numbers for next year’s event. And if Remy’s track record is any indication, he’ll get there.

“Anyone that has ever been in management or sales knows you always have to improve on your numbers,” Remy said in a message to the group. “So let's set a goal of 65 alumni and work to sponsor 22 students next year.”

Beyond the ballpark, this group of Wildcats keeps the connection going throughout the year with an annual summer gathering at Remy’s home. Last year, 32 golfers attended along with their spouses and significant others.

“For many of us, it has been 30-plus years since we saw each other, and the only difference is a few wrinkles, perhaps glasses, a surgery or two, and all of our stories having grown exponentially,” he said.

Whether in Ellensburg, at a Mariners game, or on a golf course in Moses Lake, this group continues to show what it means to be part of the CWU family. It's a bond that doesn’t fade with time; it only grows stronger.