2024-2025 Rustlers Year in Review
Every year Rustler Athletics programs continue to reach new heights. The 2024 – 25 season was no exception as the teams continued to excel in almost every sport.
Competitively the Rustlers earned ACAC Championships in women’s volleyball and women’s hockey. The men’s volleyball, mixed, women’s and men’s curling teams along with the men’s and women’s futsal teams were all on the cusp of earning a medal losing in their bronze medal games. The women’s volleyball team three peated as national champions a feat no other women’s volleyball team has achieved in women’s volleyball history. Lakeland hosted 4 Conference Championships over 3 weekends which was also a first for the institution.
Individually nineteen Lakeland student-athletes received All-Conference Awards. Women’s Volleyball student athlete Avery Bates was selected as the top women’s volleyball player in the ACAC and an All Canadian. Men’s Volleyball student-athlete Brock Tomyn was selected as one of the top 3 Volleyball players in the ACAC as well as an All Canadian. Standout leftside Lana Mathews was selected as the MVP at women’s volleyball nationals.
Men’s Basketball Head Coach Sheray Thomas was acknowledged as the top men’s basketball coach in the ACAC North Division. Rustler Women’s Volleyball Head Coach Austin Dyer was selected as the top women’s volleyball coach in the country as well as he earned the national coaching excellence award across all sports, which is the highest award any coach in Collegiate sport can receive.
Academically - Rustler student-athletes continued to strive for excellence in the classroom compiling a collective GPA of 3.03. Thirty student-athletes were awarded CCAA National Scholar awards while thirty-five student–athletes were awarded ACAC Academic Athlete awards. Five 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 2024 – 25 year student athletes and coaches contributed over 7000 hours in and around the Lakeland community leading and engaging.