The Lakeland College Rustlers are champions again. Lakeland student-athletes delivered a banner season, capturing national gold, conference gold and hosting the  Conference’s  best on home court.

Women’s volleyball: National gold

A volleyball player jumps to spike the ball.The Rustlers women’s volleyball team won the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national gold medal in Niverville, Man., defeating the Lynx d’Édouard-Montpetit. It marks a record-breaking fourth-consecutive national gold medal for the team. They are the fourth team in CCAA women’s volleyball history to win four back-to-back national titles.

Avery Bates was named tournament MVP with 43 kills and 31 digs in the tournament, with an average kills-per-set of 4.3. Lakeland’s Katelyn Mazurkewich led the tournament in assists with 10.5 per set and Raegan Nicol led in blocks per set with 1.3. Mazurkewich and Olivia DeDecker were named first-team all-stars, while Seanna Trumier was named second-team.

Men’s basketball: Home hosts

The Rustlers men’s basketball team hosted the best in the Conference on their home court for the ACAC Conference championships on the Lloydminster campus, placing fourth. They had posted a 17-3 record in the regular season to place first in the North division before a semi-final loss against the Lethbridge Kodiaks took them out of contention for the gold. The season ended with an 89-80 loss to the SAIT Trojans in a bronze medal game.

Coach Sheray Thomas was named the ACAC Men’s Basketball North Division Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year and guard Taleh Wade was named the ACAC North Player of the Year and CCAA All Canadian.

The Rustlers women's hockey teamWomen’s hockey: Conference gold

In front of a full house at the new Cenovus Energy Hub arena, the Rustlers women’s hockey team successfully defended their cvonference title with a goal in overtime, to secure the 1-0 victory against the Red Deer Queens. Claudia Lammers scored the series-winning goal on a powerplay 5:07 minutes into second overtime and was named Player of the Game. Keyra Buziak, who had been named Alberta College Athletics Conference (ACAC) regular season Top Scorer and Female Player of the Year across all sports, was named series MVP as well as a first-team all-star. Marly Dumanski was recognized as the Rookie of the Year across all ACAC sports.

This is the second consecutive gold for the team after only joining the ACAC four seasons ago.

Men’s futsal: Bronze

After a tough loss in the championship quarter finals, the men’s futsal team battled back with three straight victories to earn ACAC bronze.

Rustlers curling: Bronze

The mixed curling team returned home from the ACAC Championships with a bronze medal after beating the Concordia Thunder 8-3.

Rustlers rowing

In the fall, the rowing team continued to build momentum at various regattas. The novice women’s team dominated at the Bulrush Stakes, winning gold in the 4 km race hosted by the University of Alberta and Edmonton Rowing Club.  The novice women’s A quad placed first in their five-boat final.

Rustlers rodeo

Student-athletes on the rodeo team had a strong showing this year, with 30 contestants heading to the upcoming Canadian College Finals, two of them as season leaders in their events.

“I am so proud of all of our student-athletes and coaches, but our women’s hockey and women’s volleyball team once again took it to the next level of competitive success,” says Alan Rogan, Lakeland’s athletics director. “It is great to win titles but more importantly, it is done by great people who work together to a common goal supported by fellow Rustler athletes and an entire Rustler Nation.”