KALAMAZOO, Mich. – USMC Colonel and former WMU Football player Will Berris will be the keynote speaker as the Western Michigan baseball team holds its eighth annual Leadoff Dinner on Sunday, February 11 at the Cityscape Event Center in downtown Kalamazoo.

Colonel Berris played football at Western Michigan from 1985-88 and was a captain on the 1988 Mid-American Conference championship team. During his career with the Broncos, Berris recorded 305 tackles and forced eight fumbles and holds the record for most tackles in a single game (27) in program history.

While in the Marine Corps, Colonel Berris has commanded at every level and has been deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Horn of Africa, Kuwait, Bangladesh and Burma.

His most recent overseas duty was in the Bahrain where he served for one year as the Chief of Staff for the Department of Defense's only Marine Corps/Navy integrated Brigade staff. His duties encompassed managing the staffs that supported as many as seven thousand Marines and Sailors Aboard Navy ships and ashore throughout the Middle East.

During his time in the military, Colonel Berris has won several awards including the Legion of Merit, Defense Superior Service Medal and Combat Action Ribbon. As a

Doors for the 2018 Leadoff Dinner will open at approximately 4:30 with a social meet and greet and silent auction bidding running until 5:15 p.m. The event kicks off with a welcome from Associate Athletic Director of Communications Robin Hook followed by player introductions. Dinner services will begin at 5:45, followed by head coach Billy Gernon previewing the upcoming season. Berris will then have his chance to speak before the night is capped off with the silent auction results.

Individual tickets are $55 while tickets for kids 12 and under are $25. A corporate table is $750 and includes 10 seats and a commemorative gift.  Attendees are encouraged to dress business casual. Information regarding the silent auction items will become available closer to the date of the Leadoff Dinner.


2018 Leadoff Dinner Itinerary
4:30 – 5:15 : Social Meet & Greet with 2018 WMU Baseball Team / Bid on silent auction items
5:15: Welcome
5:30: Player Introductions
5:45: Dinner
6:15: Season Preview by WMU head coach Billy Gernon
6:45: Keynote Speaker, USMC Colonel Will Berris
7:55: WMU fight song
8:00: Closing remarks

Previous Keynote Speakers
Dave Dombrowski – President of Baseball Operations for Boston Red Sox (WMU Alum)
Matt Mieske – Former Major League Player (WMU Baseball Alum)
Dan Petry – Former Detroit Tigers Pitcher and 1984 World Series Champion
Hot Stove Panel:
 - Tony Scheffler (former NFL tight end / WMU Football and Baseball Alum)
 - Royce Dickerson (Fox Sports One Producer)
 - Ethan Hollingsworth (Former Major League Player and WMU Baseball Alum)
 - Brian Stroud (Former Major League Player and WMU Baseball Alum)
Adam Rosales – Current MLB player with the Arizona Diamondbacks (WMU Baseball Alum)
Frankie Ballard – Country Music sensation (WMU Baseball Alum)