Ritzville grad to call his eighth NCAA Tournament

Ray Bernard, 1969 graduate of Ritzville High School, will once again be involved with March Madness, as Washington State University is hosting the men’s second and third round games at the Spokane Arena on March 20 and March 22.

This will be Bernard’s eighth NCAA Tournament as the Public Address (PA) announcer. He previously had worked for WSU at men’s NCAA tournaments at the Spokane Arena in 2007 and 2010, and women’s regionals in 2008, 2011 and 2013.

He has also announced women’s first and second round NCAA games while working for Gonzaga at the McCarthey Athletic Center in 2012 and 2013.

Bernard is currently in his third year as the Voice of the Gonzaga Women’s basketball team. This is also Ray’s 26th and final year as the Voice of the Rosalia Spartans and he also spent five years as the announcer for the Garfield-Palouse Vikings.

Ray is looking forward to attending the 2014 State B Tournament in March as a retired announcer, after serving 25 years at that event.

He is looking forward to seeing all his Ritzville coworkers and visiting with people he has become friends with from around the state. Of course, he wishes the Broncos good luck and hopes to see them in Spokane and sit in the Bronco section, rooting for his red and black alma mater.