2022-2023 Rustlers Year in Review

After a successful return to post-secondary sport in the 2021 – 22 season the 2022 – 23 Rustlers continued to build on the accomplishments of the student athletes the year prior.

Competitively the Rustlers earned ACAC Championships in women’s volleyball and mixed curling.  The men’s Futsal team brought home conference bronze  and our women’s hockey program, in their first year in the ACAC, earned conference bronze as well.  The women’s volleyball team went on to win their second national title in 10 years in March.

Individually eight Lakeland student athletes received All-Conference Awards. Women’s Volleyball player Jenay Varga was selected as a ACAC Women’s Volleyball Player of the Year as well as the ACAC Female Player of the Year across all ACAC sport.  Hailey Carothers was selected as the ACAC women’s hockey player of the year the female rookie of the year across all sports.  Jenay Varga, women’s volleyball and Alana Olson women’s basketball were also selected as All Canadians for their efforts this past year.

Rustler women’s volleyball head coach, Austin Dyer, was selected as the ACAC coach of the year and in March was announced the CCAA Women’s Volleyball Coach of the year.

Academically - Rustler student-athletes continued to strive for excellence in the classroom compiling a collective GPA just shy of 3.0.  Twenty nine student-athletes were awarded CCAA National Scholar awards while thirty seven student–athletes were awarded ACAC Academic Athlete awards.  Four student-athletes were presented with CCAA Academic All Canadian awards.

In the Community Rustler student athletes continued to coach youth in club programs and camps in their sports.   Rustler programs also initiated fundraisers, assisted local charities and raised awareness around mental health and cancer.    In the 2022 – 23 year student athletes and coaches contributed over 5000 hours in and around the Lakeland community leading and engaging.