Season over for Rustler women’s basketball team

The season for Lakeland College’s Rustler women’s basketball team has ended, following a decision to forfeit the remaining games of the 2024-25 season. A letter was submitted to the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) indicating the women’s basketball team will not be competing for the remainder of the season.

“We have met with the team over the last number of weeks to gather their input on continuing with the season. In the end, it is believed that the decision to forfeit is in the best interest of the team,” says Alan Rogan, director of Athletics at Lakeland College. “While regrettable, we support the health and wellbeing of our student-athletes and will continue to support them through this transition. They are our main priority.”

Over the past several weeks, Lakeland’s senior leadership has met with the student-athletes to hear their concerns, has offered counselling support and has let the players know the college will honour all second-semester scholarships.

The majority of the women’s basketball team has returned to Lakeland this semester to continue to work toward their academic goals.

Lakeland will start the search for a new head coach for the Rustler women’s basketball team, with hopes of having one in place before the end of February, to begin recruiting for the upcoming season. Lakeland will apply to the ACAC for reinstatement of the women’s basketball program for the 2025-26 season.