Lakeland Rustlers History

Although competitive Athletics has been around Lakeland since the inception of the College in 1913 with sports like Wrestling, Football, Hockey with newspapers for shin pads and curling with house brooms, Rustler athletics did not officially join the ACAC (Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference) until the 1972–73 season as Vermilion College, and only for two years before taking a 9 year hiatus. 

In the 1983–1984 season, the Rustlers returned to the ACAC as Lakeland College in the sports of men’s and women’s volleyball, curling and cross country running and has been a strong contributing member of the ACAC since. 

Although Lakeland has not retained every sport it has competed in Rustlers have competed in the ACAC in Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Canoeing, Cross Country Running, Cross Country Skiing, Curling, Golf,  Men’s and Women’s Futsal, Men’s and Women’s Soccer and Men’s and Women’s Volleyball. 

Rustler athletics also competes competitively in the Canadian Intercollegiate Rodeo Association and compete in the sport of Rowing in the Western Canadian University Rowing Championships annually.

Lakeland College has hosted numerous Conference Championships over the years, and in 2012 hosted its’ first national championship when it welcomed the top female volleyball programs from across Canada to its’ Lloydminster Campus.  The Women’s Volleyball team won the Rustlers first ever national medal when they won silver medal in front of their home crowd. 

In the 2016–17 the women’s volleyball team took it to the next level by winning a national gold medal.