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 1983–84 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 hosted it’s second national championship in 2024 hosting a successful women’s basketball national event. Lakeland also won two national titles in the 2023–24 in women’ volleyball and women’s basketball. Since the 2021–22 season Rustler Athletics has won 14 ACAC medals and 3 national titles. Lakeland is proud of how our athletics programs has grown and continue to excel, but more importantly the quality of the student athletes who compete for our programs each year.