Rustlers Rodeo Finished Season with Dominant Performance
Brooks, Alberta played host to the top College Rodeo student athletes in Canada when they presented the Canadian College Finals Rodeo May 19th – 21st. Lakeland sent 27 competitors to the finals with a number returning home with championship buckles.
Lakeland student-athletes earned five championship buckles over the weekend.
Austin Avramenko had a great weekend for Lakeland and after the dust settled, he claimed the bareback championship buckle. Zachary Tkatchuk captured the bull riding title and was rewarded with a buckle for his efforts.
Tory Towers put together some great runs to claim the goat tying buckle. Logan Groves was named the team roping heeling champion and claimed his second buckle when he was named the overall Hi Point Cowboy.
To finish off the individual accolades, Lakeland's Kyle Wanchuk was named 2021 - 22 Cowboy of the Year and was also reserve champion of tie down roping.
On the cusp of winning buckles were Dixon Tattrie (saddle bronc), Logan Groves (steer wrestling), and Jessie Ferguson and Beau Schlesiger (team roping) who were all named Reserve Champions.
The award the Lakeland Rustlers took the most pride in the past season was when they were announced as the Varsity Team Year End Champions. Each rodeo weekend, coaches select two cowgirls and two cowboys to be on the varsity team. Total points collected for all four are added after each weekend of competition. The team with the most points after the regular season is crowned the Varsity Team Champion.
With all the challenges of this past season the Lakeland Rustlers Rodeo program trained and competed at a high level. Manager of Rodeo Operations Ashley Watt has indicated that several of the team members from this past season will be returning to Lakeland in the fall of 2022 and if this past season is any indication the future for rodeo at Lakeland is looking bright.
