WENATCHEE — Former Wenatchee Valley College athlete and Washington State University kicker Don Sweet will be the main speaker at the 2012 Apple Cup Tailgate Luncheon, to be held Thursday at the Wenatchee Convention Center.

The luncheon will be hosted by the Wenatchee Central Lions and Downtown Rotary. Doors open at 11:15 a.m., and the program is scheduled to start at noon.

Sweet attended Wenatchee Valley College, playing soccer, basketball, and baseball from 1967-69. He attended Washington State University and eventually became the Cougars’ kicker after catching the eye of an assistant coach during a physical education session. After graduating from WSU in 1972, Sweet joined the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League and played for 13 years, winning three Grey Cups.

He is a retired school principal and has developed a consulting service for professional and college kickers, working with clients such as the British Columbia Lions of the CFL.

“The luncheon usually (features) someone that has played or coached at Washington or Washington State,” said Teka Parks, one of the event’s organizers. “(Former WSU player and professional scout) Jeff Smith, who helps us to find our speakers, used to be (Sweet’s) roommate and asked him to be the speaker this year. We rely on Jeff to line up our speakers with his great connections from the past, and we haven’t been disappointed yet. (Sweet’s local connections) are another reason for why he was chosen. His wife is from East Wenatchee.”

Parks said Sweet’s message will revolve mostly around motivational themes.

“He’s going to be talking about being prepared for life’s opportunities,” she said. “I’m sure he’ll be ribbing the Huskies (in attendance) and reminiscing about games and stuff like that as well.”

The event will also feature raffle prizes, decorations, the Eastmont High School band, tailgater food and more. Tickets are $20 in advance (available at McDee’s Art Center and Mitchell Reed Insurance), $25 at the door and $200 for a table of 10. Proceeds will go to the Wounded Warrior Project.