Rustlers Curling | Fall Classic Recap - Nov 29 to Dec 1, 2019

The Lakeland College Rustlers curling team hosted the 1st ACAC Curling Regional at the Lloydminster Curling Club this past weekend.  There were 7 men's teams, 7 women's teams, and 6 mixed teams competing from across the province. 

The Rustlers men's team lost their first 2 games but won their last 4 to finish with a record of 4-2 and a four-way tie for first on the men's division.

On day one, the men's first game was against the Grant MacEwan Griffins, where they would lose 4-8. The men would then also lose to the Augustana Vikings 3-8. However, they would not let these loses phase them.

On day two, the men refocused and captured 2 wins over the Olds College Broncos (8-1) and the Concordia Thunder (5-3).

On day three, the men would continue their winning streak defeating the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) Trojans 9-5, and also the Red Deer College Kings 7-6.

The composure that the men's team showed after their initial two losses is a testament to their veteran team. Three of the four members of the team attended the National Curling Championships last year. The fourth member of their team is a rookie and new to the ACAC curling scene.

In contrast to the men's team, the women's team is comprised of all rookie athletes competing for the first time in their first ACAC regional. They competed strong through the entire weekend and were in almost every game. They would finish the weekend with a record of 1-5. 

On day one, the women had a loss against the Augustana Vikings (3-8).  Day two saw losses to both Concordia Thunder (6-4) and Olds College Broncos (6-7), but a win over Grant MacEwan University Griffins (9-2).  On day three, the Rustlers suffered two more losses to the Red Deer College Queens (6-9),  the NAIT Ooks (4-7).

Finally, the Rustlers mixed team, also comprised of all first-year athletes, lost their first game of the weekend but rebounded and won their next 4. Their record of 4-1 was good for first place in the mixed division.

The team would lose their first and only game to the Grant MacEwan University Griffins by only 1 point (6-7). On day two, the team rebounded and defeated the SAIT Trojans 9-4, and the Red Deer College mixed team 8-5.

The Rustlers mixed team would complete their weekend on day three with 2 wins over the Augustana Vikings (4-3) and the NAIT Ooks (8-6).

The next ACAC Regional will be held in January on the 24, 25, and 26 hosted by NAIT in Edmonton.